British Land’s revised plans for an extension to Sheffield’s Meadowhall shopping centre, including a £150m leisure hall, have been approved.
The application includes a 335,000 sq ft leisure-led extension to Meadowhall itself and the development of a separate (non-clothing and luxury goods) retail park on the vacant land surrounding the existing Next Home and Costa units.
Both elements were applied for in outline form only.
The proposal also included a full planning application to change the use of The Source building from a training academy to a mixed-use commercial building.
The application followed on from a previous full planning permission for a larger, 385,400 sq ft extension to Meadowhall, approved in May 2018, which lapsed in May 2021 without being implemented.
The current revised proposals are for a smaller extension to Meadowhall itself, reduced by 16% in terms of total floor area, and allow for the different elements to be phased. However, the two additional elements – the new retail park and change of use of The Source – mean the overall commercial floorspace proposed to be created is similar to the previous consent, at 370,000 sq ft.
The maximum amount of commercial floorspace which could be used for indoor leisure or food and beverage sales has been reduced substantially, by 30% and 36% respectively. The amount of space for general retail purposes remains the same as previously permitted.
The application was approved by a majority of six councillors to three against and one abstention.
Concerns were raised by some councillors about trade being directed away from Sheffield city centre. Concerns were also raised by Rotherham council about the impact on its town centre.
British Land estimated that 43.9% of people who would come to use the food and beverage offer would otherwise go to alternative locations.
Conditions were included in the proposal to mitigate the impact of this. These included no floorspace to be occupied before 1 November 2029 to allow the city and town centres time to secure the operators they want, a restriction in the types of goods that can be sold and a condition to stop Meadowhall poaching tenants from these locations.
See more Sheffield planning information here>>
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