Sheffield City Council is giving £1.24 million to businesses to help transform Chapel Walk into a vibrant city centre destination.
Two organisations will receive grants to improve shop fronts and increase accessibility to the upper floors of property on Chapel Walk, whilst small or new businesses will be able to apply for funding to move into empty shop units.
The funding comes from the Fargate Front Door Scheme, a £4m investment in shop fronts, access, and environmental improvements to make the area more attractive and fill empty shops. It forms part of the Future High Streets Fund plan to regenerate Fargate and surrounding streets.
Diane Jarvis, Head of Business Operations at Sheffield BID, said: “This is further positive, welcome news for the city centre. These latest investments will play a key part in continuing the regeneration story of the wider Fargate, High Street and Chapel Walk area.
“Anyone who has visited this part of the city centre recently will have seen that the whole area is going through a rapid period of change as the city centre continues to adapt to changes in visitor and consumer behaviour. The businesses in and around the area continue to deliver a first-class retail experience during the works on Fargate. We’re confident that the end results will speak for themselves and Chapel Walk will once again be a ‘must visit’ destination for city centre visitors. These are exciting times for the city centre and, as funding partner to ReNew Sheffield, we’re delighted to be playing a direct role in this transformation.”
The Sheffield Church Burgesses Trust will receive £250,000 to improve its shop fronts and support works to improve access inside the building to create new workspace in the empty upper floor. Whilst the Foundry Sheffield will receive £650,000 to improve its shop fronts, improve ground floor access and reconfigure upper floors at Victoria Hall.
£90,000 will be made available to help small and new businesses with fit out costs if they’re moving into a vacant property. Another £250,000 will be used to install public art to make Chapel Walk a pleasant and interesting place to visit.
The funding is part of plans to regenerate Fargate into a lively and vibrant place to meet, eat, shop, work and play. The Future High Streets Fund project also includes plans to turn 20 – 26 Fargate into an events and cultural hub, and investment in public realm to create space for events, reduce crime and improve walking and cycling routes.
Councillor Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Committee said: “Chapel Walk has a proud history as one of the city centre’s most loved shopping streets and this funding will give a new lease of life to the area, attracting new visitors and providing a boost for businesses.
“By enabling local organisations to upgrade their shop fronts, installing new public art, and providing grants to encourage small and new businesses to move into empty units, this funding will transform Chapel Walk into a fantastic place to visit in the city centre.
