£50+ million station Masterplan was drawn up by the city council, the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, Midland Mainline, Network Rail, the Strategic Rail Authority and Sheffield One to develop Sheffield Station into a high quality gateway to the city.

http://www.sheffield1.com/image/050.gifhttp://www.sheffield1.com/image/113.gif

Work began on transforming Sheffield train station and developing a world-class gateway to the city several years ago.

One of the first improvements was a new multi-storey car park which opened in 2002. Much of the refurbishment work to the interior of the station has also been completed including a new footbridge, the realignment of the Supertram stop, lifts from all platforms and upgrades to platforms.

New platform bridge linking directly to the station Supertram stop
http://members.lycos.co.uk/skyfitsleeds/hpbimg/07-12-05_2107.jpg

New station concourse, now greatly increased in size
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/Trainstation14090502.jpg

New digital rolling arrival/departure boards
http://members.lycos.co.uk/skyfitsleeds/hpbimg/14-12-05_1706.jpg

New retail outlets at within the station's new concourse
http://members.lycos.co.uk/skyfitsleeds/hpbimg/14-12-05_1710.jpg

The proposed Cutting Edge sculpture was conceived and designed in Sheffield for Sheffield, drawing on the city's unique traditions and aspirations. It confirms that in the 21st century Sheffield still stands at the forefront of metal design. Forming the centrepiece of the station square, Cutting Edge is a simple, elegant blade of stainless steel which will sweep through the landscape changing its shape in a series of curves. Approximately 90 metres long, it will have dramatically different ends: at the top of Sheaf Square it will be circular and a metre high; at the station end it will rise to a height of 4.5 metres and its form will be elliptical - appearing to 'slice' into the paving of the lower square.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/sense_of_place/sheaf_square/images/gallery/cutting_dark_400.jpg http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/sense_of_place/sheaf_square/images/gallery/cutting_person_edge_400.jpg

The end sections will be set with glorious coloured glass designed by Keiko Mukaide, whose glass sculpture also features in the Millennium Galleries. Cool blue tones will be used at the top and hot vibrant reds/oranges in the ellipse, lit from inside to radiate a jewel-like quality.

During daylight hours Cutting Edge will be seen in natural light, its polished surface reflecting the city, the landscape and the people, but at night it will appear to float on a ribbon of light running along the full length of its base.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/sense_of_place/sheaf_square/images/gallery/view_of_station_400.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/NewSheafSquare.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/sense_of_place/sheaf_square/images/master_map.jpg

The re-development of Howard Street is part of the gateway development and is now a tree-lined boulevard with a stunning new water feature and seating platforms underlit with blue neon lights running the length of Howard Street.

Sheaf House (below) was demolished last summer and the demolishion of Dyson House is under way
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/dyson_house.jpg

definatley a perfect site for development. "sheffields new gateway" - indeed.

I have to say it looks great, I came to sheffield over a year ago and the station was still being developed and looked very old and the outside was certinaly a mess leading to Hallam, going there today its such an improvment, from walking down Howard street.

This is certainly what Sheffield needs, a nice pleasant gateway to the city, currently it is very disorientating, you don't know which way the city centre is!
But this looks much more welcoming and creates a definate route to the heart of the city.

http://sccplugins.sheffield.gov.uk/press/news/release.asp?akey=3401

Scaffolding going up around Dyson House next Monday and demolishion completed by may with no road closures and the first section of the Cutting Edge delivered next Sunday.

The station gateway really is going to be a superb introduction to Sheffield for visitors. Thinking of other cities I've visited recently by train, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Liverpool - they all have grander stations but once you step outside, there really is nothing special. In fact some of the station areas in these cities are positively grim. I think that one of the things Sheffield has done and is doing well is the development of quality public spaces.

http://sccplugins.sheffield.gov.uk/press/news/release.asp?akey=3401

Scaffolding going up around Dyson House next Monday and demolishion completed by may with no road closures and the first section of the Cutting Edge delivered next Sunday.

Excellent news, that whole area seems to have been a mess for ages. I just hope they replace Dyson House with something truely stunning and tall, similar to the Spital Tower design.

According to the plan, Sheaf Street will remain as a busy part of the inner ring road, with two lanes in each direction. Pedestrians will still need to cross it to get into the city centre.

If traffic could somehow be diverted above the station, it would make the city gateway much more attractive.

I think they should have used the slope to their advantage and put an open plan subway underneath the road, or a pedestrian bridge over a channeled road.

Alas no. It will look better than before though.

Found two more images of the new station square.

When coming out of the station. Cutting Edge sculpture is the silver coloured "wall" on the right
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e60/snuppp/fountains.jpg

When walking towards the station
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e60/snuppp/stationsquare.jpg

Thinking of other cities I've visited recently by train, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Liverpool - they all have grander stations but once you step outside, there really is nothing special.


Not really sure that applies to Leeds. What Midland station needs is a quality gateway building directly outside the station. There was supposed to be a competition to design a structure on the site of the two glass blocks below. Anyone know if this is still going to happen?

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/NewSheafSquare.jpg

Three huge sections of the Steel sculpture have been installed outside the station, its still pretty much under wraps though at the moment heres a few pics taken outside and a couple inside at the train station this afternoon :cheers:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/Steel1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/Steel3.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/Steel2.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/SheafSqPano010306sml.jpg
WELCOME TO SHEFFIELD - IT WILL BE NICE WHEN IT'S FINISHED!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/StationConcourse010306.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/StationBridge02010306sml.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/StationBridge01010306sml.jpg

Its looking alot better, and when its done it will all look great, the big metal wall thingy will look great in the sun, like it does on them pics

Top pics skyfitsboy!! I personally would like to thank you for all the quality pics you keep posting. Until I get my camera, keep up the good work!! :)

Love the plans for the public space but do they really need to squeeze those buildings in between the main road and the Howard / Showroom. I think the Showroom is a really cool Art-Deco ish building and should be seen from the station. Also, the Howard looks kinda quirky with its mock-tudor in amongst mostly modern buildings. Anyone agreee? I'd like some sort of protest so I can chain myself to something. Not sure if this is gonna be it....

I'm not sure those visions will really be built, that area looks pretty well 'finished' in terms of the pavement, it doesn't look like its being readied for some small office block. And it would be small.

Sheaf Street will be re-aligned slightly from how it is not, but you're right andrew, any building would be a small one - but then you never know, Hallam might use it for something.

How many platforms are at the station?

There are about 12, I think. They divide into sub-platforms like 2a, 2b, 8a, 8b. Plus the tram tracks, if you're counting them.

Without going into the 1a, 1b and so on, I believe there are EIGHT for the trains and TWO for the trams.

The 1a's and so on are the same platform, just the opposite ends

At the ends of the station there are, I think, more actual platforms, where tracks terminate.

Anyone know how many Leeds has got? :-)

Nine platforms, if you count 2c. It’s a bay platform inbetween platforms 2 and 5 at the south end of the station. The Manchester Piccadilly stopper users it.

five through platforms 1, 2, 5, 6 and 8 and four bay platforms 2c,3,4 and 7

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/dyson_house.jpg

that is one of the best images i could have hoped for you guys in sheffield..... i cant tell you how much i used to cringe for you tuys everytime my birmingham - newcastel train pulled up

Well Sheaf House (the one partially nibbled away at in the pic) is now gone and Dyson House should be a goner in the next couple of months.

what i wouldn't have given to have a swing at dyson house with a ball and chain!

Join the queue pal, I wont be sorry to see this one gone :D

it is such a bad welcome to such a large city. i have no problems saying that in development terms sheffield appears (to an outsider) years behind the rest, but its god to see the council have started to stand up and take note!

Here's a few more of the new Sheaf Square outside the train station:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/SheafSq02060306.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/SheafSq01060306.jpg

Some shots I took tonight of Howard Street leading down to the train station, a very attractive route now :tongue3:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/HowardSt03060306.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/HowardSt04060306.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/HowardSt05060306.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/HowardSt06060306.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/HowardSt02060306.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/HowardSt01060306.jpg

Really like the blue neon lights which run along Surrey St highlighting attraction such as the Winter Gardens, Millennium Galleries and Graves Art Gallery. Originally thought they was only up for Xmas but it appears their here to stay.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/SurreySt02060306.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/SurreySt01060306.jpg

That walk down to the station is wonderful...very atmospheric and magical...something every town and city should have.

Great pics there Sky Fits as always,first time ive seen the water feature in full and it looks great,also good to see they have changed the bulbs on the floodlighting on the town hall at last, looks a lot better at night now.

The Blue neon signs on the lamp posts are to stay until late spring when the nights get shorter.

Took a couple of pics of the Station Square site (from the Showroom Cinema entrance) on me way home this evening...

Cutting Edge and Square (personally I think its too high at the station entrance end)
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c20/dinpy3/DSC00118.jpg

Your days are numbered Mr Dyson!!!
http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c20/dinpy3/DSC00119.jpg

Ye i think the wall is quite tall near the way in to station, when you walk towards the station you cant even see it now.

The location of the Cutting Edge does indicate how much realignment the road needs though, im glad its not going to be as hairpiinned as it currently is, and it will create a wider pedestrian space between Sheaf Street and Paternoster Row.

I noticed that the NBM is now forsale, I thought Hallam were going to keep it, but i guess not?

RU sure it is for sale Truefitt? That would be strange indeed.

Yes SHU, as below press release says, was committed to bring the Psalter Lane campus to the CIQ and replace the NMB with a new building. In fact if you read below pressrelease money was already set aside to see this materialise.

I saw an artist impression the other day in one of the threads but can't find that image now. If SHU were to replace it it should just be a matter of knocking the NMB down and build a new campus, don't understand why they are selling the place unless they are trying to get the project off the ground with help of a private developer and lease the place back.

However, it may very well be that the footprint of the NMB is not large enough for their needs and they want to sell the site and look for an alternative location in the CIQ.

Will try to find out what is happening there.

The link to the pressrelease I am referring to is here

£17 million boost for University relocation plan (http://www.shu.ac.uk/cgi-bin/news_full.pl?id_num=PR361&db=03)

A sign has gone up on the NMB saying that there are two plots for sale and recommends Hotel or Head office buildings.

yes it suggests hotel or some other building, but it defo says for sale, looking at it from above (owen) the land isnt that big, its only one weird shapped building, but it would be in a prime location for any one driving by or going to/from the station.

The walk to the Millennium Galleries is absolutely stunning. Now I'd like to see a few tall, slender towers down by the station to greet passengers as they arrive, not literally of course.

Two more pics of the new station display screens :)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/3183c562.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/5793dc5c.jpg

It's such an improvement compared to those little tellys!!

yes it is, I remember when I came to sheffield a while ago I couldnt belive they had tv screens like that, Even my little town had dig displays, Tho I went to coventry the other week and they had the tvs that only showed the next train.

Right, here is the proof that the NMB will definitely not become a new Campus building for SHU which explains why the site is now up for sale.
These images show the new Furnival Street Building which (as the name implies) will go on Furnival Street, on the site of that Graham Kitchen and Bathrooms building, next to the Rutland Arms pub.

The Psalter Lane Faculty of Arts, will move to this building amongst other departments that need more space.

The proposal is due for approval by the Council in May of this year and construction should be completed in 2008.

The site with Graham Kitchen showroom on the right where the new building will be constructed
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e60/snuppp/furnivalst3.jpg

View from Furnival Street. Visible on the righ the Yorkshire Artspace building
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e60/snuppp/furnivalst1.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e60/snuppp/furnivalst2.jpg

I like the design for that, and it is a fairy big piece of land with the carpark at the side, which at the moment is just not used, also its pretty close to the main uni campus.

Yeah, it's a good idea to expand the Uni to that area - it will breathe a bit of life into it.

if you come back in a few years the whole of that area will look complety different, starting on the corner, where the red crain is, that building gets more and more done each day, then next to that with the white crain thats totaly covered in scafolding, so that will be complety different once its all done, then with hallam across the road.

Good to see this, it will bring some much needed er... CULTURE into the CIQ and frees up the NMB site for something more lucrative (hopefully).

Imagine living in Exchange Works and having lectures in this new building though, how cool would that be!

Culture and life, yes, but at the same time it will also bring much more [B]red brick into the area. I do agree about the NMB though. Hope they will use the opportunity to build some really, and I mean, really interesting stuff around the new station square.

View from Furnival St.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e60/snuppp/viewfromfurnivalst2.jpg
View from Arundel St.
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e60/snuppp/viewfromarundelst.jpg

I think red brick is actually the right material to use in this area though, as the renderings you've posted show, it will contrast quite nicely with the surroundings.

down at the station today.....

so long dyson house! i think we can safely say you will not be missed!

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9105/picture0502ru.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

and work continues apace down in the square:

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/809/picture0510fe.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

this just shows how its can be small squares and now towers that can change the view peolpe have of a city...and impressive piece of public space!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/HowardSt04060306.jpg

Hallam really does make a positive contribution to the city with its newer buildings.

31st march

the rest of dyson house will be pulled down next week.

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/8715/dscf00214yj.jpg

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/5865/dscf00222oj.jpg

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7256/dscf00273kj.jpg

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/3333/dscf00294fo.jpg

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/4292/dscf00338il.jpg

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/6460/dscf01374nk.jpg

bye bye dyson!

scroll------>

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/7757/dscf00146hz.jpg

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5994/dscf00171aa.jpg

aww bless, u going to get the tissues to dry up the tears?

Took a pic of Dyson house today. It should all be gone very soon.

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/9825/dsc004894zf.th.jpg (http://img111.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc004894zf.jpg)

http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=1463864

Surprised that there are still no definite plans regarding what will replace Dyson and Sheaf Houses.

It will look great when its done, and reading that news article it seems like it will be great, lets hope the water and light features work on this!

so what is it exactly which makes dyson house impossible to destroy? progress seems to have stalled for the 3rd time, all the killing machines have gone and scaffolding is all over it again. it's unacceptable! i demand more carnage.

does anybody know what's going on?

Maybe they're retaining and recladding some of it?

:-)

Maybe the last bit is too close to the road and they need to take it down with smaller equipment operated from scaffolding.

Where's fred dibnah ( r.i.p. ) when you need him.?
He's have had the lot down weeks ago in a risky but perfectly executed operation involving fire, pit props, dynamite, one shaky and lengthy ladder to the roof, a funny hooter and a couple of pints of beer to calm his nerves at 7am before he starts.

Can't see why they don't just close the road for a few days. Most people using it are just to bone idle to get the bus anyway... or walk for that matter

Can't see why they don't just close the road for a few days. Most people using it are just to bone idle to get the bus anyway... or walk for that matter

Adsheff, Why don't you just fuck off....ignorant...

It looks like they're building a beach and ocean outside the train station, the water feature is certainly gonna be BIG!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/18de17eb.jpg

Can't see why they don't just close the road for a few days. Most people using it are just to bone idle to get the bus anyway... or walk for that matter

Thats a very silly post.

Can't see why they don't just close the road for a few days. Most people using it are just to bone idle to get the bus anyway... or walk for that matter

I admire your sense of humour, I really do :lol:

Adsheff, Why don't you just fuck off....ignorant...

But still, the idea about closing the road for a day or two - if indeed that's what's holding up demolition - is a valid one. Try to play nice.

Can't see why they don't just close the road for a few days. Most people using it are just to bone idle to get the bus anyway... or walk for that matter
Back in January they had signs up saying the road was going to be closed for two weekends,but then nothing happened.

But things are happening today as green mesh is going around the scaffold now on Dyson.

Hello Buxton person, you are lovely! I've never met anyone so friendly! I'm going to tell everyone of the lovely people online who enjoy lively debate without resorting to mindless insults....
Are you one of the lazy ones?

Getting there. Taken today

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/unners/citycentre010.jpg

:cheers:

with all that netting and stuff are they just going to take it down brick by brick, if they did that in the first place it would have been down months ago!

no more progress on the demolition? i've relocated to deepest denmark for three months so i can't check myself. i don't want to see it there when i come back!

no progress what so ever.

Hey Roney, I'm in Denmark too, in Copenhagen. Lots of buildings shooting up here. Where are you?

i'm in billund (on internship with lego! yes!) in the middle of nowhere. it's so boring! only one construction site here and that's a supermarket carpark. it really is that thrilling!

ahh but it's good to hear that nothing changes in sheffield while you're away. what would we talk about if anything actually happened??

Unners, why are you boycotting the SheffieldForum?

Unners, why are you boycotting the SheffieldForum?

Because it is full of people moaning about Bus Drivers which i used to be for a while,and it got my goat up reading the same old crap all the time about things they know nothing about.
People constantly slating Sheffield and the things it discusses are soooo trivial. The site was good when it first started but not any longer.

I find this site far more informative and interesting then the 'forum' ever was.
Keep up the good work lads and dont judge me for being an ex bus driver. :)

I gotta say, my experience of bus drivers in Sheffield has not been good. However, if I am going to gripe about them in any depth, i'll make sure its done on the other forum.

On a related topic though, the station square is looking better day by day, you can actually see parts of it now as you drive past on Sheaf Street. Its a good job they've installed that Cutting Edge sculpture or drivers would spend their time looking at the fantastic square rather than the road - I know I would! :lol:

Still, I thought Cutting Edge was supposed to be a continuous peice of steel? It looks like it's in at least 10 sections! Are they going to put something in between?

I thought the same lewisskinner until today, when I took this pic of the square...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/dinp83/DSCF0399.jpg

it now IS one continuous piece :)

Nice pic - taken from the car park I presume. Will water run down those steps on the left then, similar to the Peace Gardens?

Down the steps beneath the sculpture yes. That whole square is really shaping up nicely.

Nice picture, looks like the square will turn out to be great. A much more pleasant welcome to the city. Fingers crossed there will be a quality development to replace sheaf and dyson house.

Its great to see the square taking shape, when is the completion time may I ask?

Due to be done by the end of the year - however I dont think they stated which year...

A pic of the square from ground level...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/dinp83/DSCF0397small.jpg

Wow. Looking good! The view will be fantastic, imagine stepping out of the station, looking out over the square up towards St. Pauls and City Lofts.... will be something quite special.

Great pics,i read somewhere recently the a film of water will go down the sculpture,can anyone confirm if this is true or not?

That is true but I am not sure if it is both sides or just the station side of the sculpture

Contrary to popular belief Dyson is now disappearing - I walked past from the station side today and you can see that the roof level has already been removed from the rear. Brick by brick, slowly but surely......

Contrary to popular belief Dyson is now disappearing - I walked past from the station side today and you can see that the roof level has already been removed from the rear. Brick by brick, slowly but surely......

I can also confirm this :)

Yep I can see it from my office :)

Contrary to popular belief Dyson is now disappearing - I walked past from the station side today and you can see that the roof level has already been removed from the rear. Brick by brick, slowly but surely......

Great! Any photos of current status/future proposals?

I'm really surprised no proposals or applications for the Dyson/Sheaf House sites have materialised, although behind the scenes things must be moving forward.

Hope its something striking, imposing but elegant lol!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/9f9e0fc8.jpg

Think it may be something to do with the eCampus, or a least, the guys designing it know what might be going there...

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/Superfly_bucket/Ecampusarea.jpg

Lets hope its something like the Sentinel office in Glasgow... :cheers:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h283/Superfly_bucket/332TheSentinel_pic14.jpg

Not too tall, at 35m, but ultimately the funkeist office I have ever seen, perfect for a technology park, surely?

Them windows, by the way, change colour to whatever you want! :eek2:

Just imagine stepping off a train and seeing that!!!

That is a pretty cool office building, if we could see something like that, but with a bit more height, in Sheffield, that would be good.

That would be perfect!

Anyone know what is happening on the NMB site. Its still up for sale!

Claims on the to let sign say it's office/hotel site? Is it the building up for sale, or the plot of land, that is, are the buyer obligued the destroy NMB?

Oh god, please say yes!

Knight Frank are the agents and they say:

"Potential hotel and office development. The vendors are inviting interest in both plots, either together or individually, for a high quality hotel or office development. This is a high profile location at the gateway to the City Centre and importance will be attached to the design quality of any proposed scheme"

NB plot 1 is the NMB and plot 2 is the space created by realigning the main road. It would be great to see something like Malmaison or Jurys Inn here in a high quality building but somehow I dont think so. Its a really small, narrow plot to work with. As to demolition, thats up to the buyer and the planning authorities but lets face it, its inevitable - what could anyone do with the NMB other than smash it up???

fingers crossed they tear it apart!

Ah, many a cheap :cheers: did I consume withing those walls, or sometimes a :cheers2: ,
followed by a :rock: in the :dance: upstairs, while the :cheers1: and :drunk: continued.
Sometimes, if I lucky, i got a :hug: off a girl or two, or better a :kiss: , but most times it ended in :puke: . And in the morning? :toilet:

But yes, it was (and still is) dingy, smelly, ugly and only the cheapness of the booze kept me going. The building that replaces it has to be a 'statement' about Sheffield, a proper decent gateway.

ONly went once - did some bar work there at a battle of the bands night. It's a horrible place isn't it? Who'd build anything like that in such a prominant location as it is now?

If I remember correctly it was built in 1978, not sure what was there before, but I reckon at the time SCC were glad to have something being built at all! Still, I thought the 'SHU Union of Students welcomes you to Sheffield' sign was a nice touch.

I'd like to see Spital tower next to the station to compliment the blade.

It's much too tall for that, in it's current format, and I believe it's footprint is too big

If you come out of Leeds (I know, I know! :) ) station on the carpark side there's this brand new office building, it's only 4 or 5 storys, but it's such a cool design, elements of the Lloyds building but with more glass, and I can remember thinkin 'oh, thats niiice!' as I went to my mate's car. Put simply, you don't need height to make an impact.

If you come out of Leeds (I know, I know! :) ) station on the carpark side there's this brand new office building, it's only 4 or 5 storys, but it's such a cool design, elements of the Lloyds building but with more glass, and I can remember thinkin 'oh, thats niiice!' as I went to my mate's car. Put simply, you don't need height to make an impact.

Is the building your refering to the Princes Exchange (below)? If so I agree it is a very attractive building which gives a good impression of being a major city for business.

I've always thought Sheffield needs something like this next to the new station square.

http://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_off_lrg/princes_410_03.jpghttp://www.careyjones.co.uk/images/upload/arch_off_lrg/princes_410_04.jpg

Would be great if the NMB was replaced with stiking hotel/office development like the building below :cheers:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/9020705113850.jpg

Put simply, you don't need height to make an impact.

There's nothing tall on Arundel Gate so far, and nothing with a 'wow factor' but the street gives Sheffield a really modern, pleasant feel.

^^ Exactly, although City Lofts and the carpark will certainly alter things! But yeah, I really like the view from Hallam towards Eyre St.

Skyfits, not sure it's as striking as that, it's the one opposite the Wetherspoon's on the western side of the station. It's been there a while cos it's on Google Earth, but nevertheless I think we're on exactly the same wavelength, and I really hope SCC are thinking on the same lines too, just think how many people travel to, from, through and past the station on a daily basis, all with a clear view of both sites; something good will really change the perception of the city!
And I'll drink to that (possibly at the Howard if they're good enough!) :cheers:

i hope that the area is taken opportunity of and that someting striking or iconic is put around the station. i would hate it if they built something like the square around there.... i have a terrible feeling that they may try to do that... :runaway:

i want to be proven wrong.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j217/hellagood88/38fcba5a.jpg

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j217/hellagood88/537f05f5.jpg

Thanks for the pics. Looks like they're taking it apart piece by piece - slowly.

Gorblimey they're certainly taking their time about it! What happened to the mechanical claw thing, lease run out did it? *smacks forehead*

Its still there infact it has taken quite of lot of Dyson down in the last few days.

^^ Doh! *smacks forehead again* :D

Yes from my office I *nearly* can't see it! Woohoo

I took a few this morning:

http://static.flickr.com/46/171254736_b2024dab72.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/54/171254729_1edb70e11e.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/56/171258480_ee08f08be1.jpg

Why have they painted the steps blue? Is it some sort of protective paint?

Anyone remember Challenge Anneka? She'd have had this done in 3 days!

but she did have a helicopter

And an eye-searing pink shell-suit.

Here's a collection of photographs of the train station and new square, taken this tea-time:

http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/th_b162dc8d.jpg (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/b162dc8d.jpg)http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/th_b5304ea9.jpg (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/b5304ea9.jpg)
Click to enlarge

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/a20d46ee.jpg
Restored station canopies!!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/9c7fb8d7.jpg
Park Hill rising over the station

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/889a6de8.jpg
The indestructable Dyson House!!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/09da20de.jpg
Looking towards Howard St..

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/a614743d.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/f4a7f5d3.jpg
The new Sheffield starting to become more & more visible from the station, the three cranes sticking up are the Velocity cranes believe it or not, how different would Sheffield look if it was flat!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/aa8aaefa.jpg
God knows what this crane is actually doing?!

That crane, I think, is used for lifting diggers onto the building.
There are using diggers on the top and then lifting pieces off, thats why i t is taking ages.

Thanks for the pics!

omg, did u not get chucked off that car park? as usual i got escorted out of the building by security last time i went up there. i think i must be on some sort of sheffield blacklist or something.... anyway nvm, great pics!

I KNOW WHY IT'S TAKING SO LONG TO DEMOLISH DYSON HOUSE!!!!!

It's sommat to do with there being some old building behind it or nearby, that they can't damage.

omg, did u not get chucked off that car park? as usual i got escorted out of the building by security last time i went up there. i think i must be on some sort of sheffield blacklist or something.... anyway nvm, great pics!

Lol, nope I didn't get confronted or challenged by anyone up on the car park roof :)

What was that about the canopies? Were they taken off for some reason?

I went to Nottingham this weekend on the train. As I came back, I was standing by the supertram stop. I wondered whether it'd be possible to turn the roof into a floor and build some shops up there like Manchester Piccadilly. Any thoughts?

That would be very good wouldnt it. Cant see it happening though:(

I'd love the idea. Just got back on here and thought of it.

Also, look at a lot of European cities, and they have a well integrated transport system. Birmingham is awful - three main train stations, none of them near to a bus station or linked to it in anyway. Manchester is OK - if you get into Victoria, the Metro goes right to Piccadilly and the bus station, and Barnsley is fantastic, with the bus station built around the train station. So, my point, how about building a bus station above the train station?

...and free up the entire Pond St site for new, exclusive, city living apartments!

:)

Would it be feasible though, or would massie restructurin of the roads need to be done?

:)

Would it be feasible though, or would massie restructurin of the roads need to be done?

Though I don't know huge amounts about this I can't see it being feasible. The main problem is the station isn't designed to have further building on top, and even if it were possible it would need to be buildings that can support buses!
Also having just spent about 3 years playing with the roads near the station I can't see them changing them, again for at least 10 years.

I'd figured as much. What about plans to crate lots of mini-interchanges around the city and create circular services, with a major interchange near the station? Was this just pie in the sky?

BBC S Yorks has some stuff about the development on its website today, but there is absolutely nothing new. It features the same old 'artists impression' from 2003 with low rise buildings - one of six stories, one of four, with the accompanying caption "The artistic impression showing how Sheaf Square will look. It's predicted the work will complete at the end of 2006."

There's no way any new buildings will be completed this year - at the rate it's going Dyson may not even be fully demolished by then! Reckon the journalist was in a hurry to finish work and get off to see the world cup.

I look forward to seeing the revised plans for the square - hopefully with a tall, slim, elegant tower. Anyone in the trade heard anything?


http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/content/image_galleries/sheaf_square_2006_gallery.shtml

can anyone tell me what the heights of sheaf house and dyson hose were?

I think the council should hold an international design competion for the new station buildings. They should have around five shortlists and then let the public decide which one is chosen as this is an important building in terms of first impressions of Sheffield and I think the people of the city should decided what it ultimatly looks like. I also agree with other peoples comments that the building should be midd-rise but iconic. A nice slender but curvy glass building would be my preference.

I think the council should hold an international design competion for the new station buildings. They should have around five shortlists and then let the public decide which one is chosen as this is an important building in terms of first impressions of Sheffield and I think the people of the city should decided what it ultimatly looks like. I also agree with other peoples comments that the building should be midd-rise but iconic. A nice slender but curvy glass building would be my preference.

Yeah, something like the proposed Westbar Shards

I think the design awards is a great idea. It gives the people of Sheffield some say in what goes there. Makes them (us) feel a part of what's going on and we'll probably get something decent as well!

hmm..... leaving things to "the public" can be a risky strategy. Several years ago three designs were put forward for art in the area which was once the goodwin fountain (outside the town hall). All three were innovative and groundbreaking for sheffiled but the public dissed them all, so over 5 years later will still have a big empty space. Getting good architects to put in competing designs would be a good idea though IMO. Maybe the choice should be made by someone else like CABE or Yorkshire Forward.

no they should leave the decision up to us, the ssc sheffield forumers :) lol

I agree leave it to us.Regarding the site of the old fountain i suggest a landmark scraper! although it may block access to Fargate a tad!!

I'd love the idea. Just got back on here and thought of it.

Also, look at a lot of European cities, and they have a well integrated transport system. Birmingham is awful - three main train stations, none of them near to a bus station or linked to it in anyway. Manchester is OK - if you get into Victoria, the Metro goes right to Piccadilly and the bus station, and Barnsley is fantastic, with the bus station built around the train station. So, my point, how about building a bus station above the train station?

To be fair to Mcr as well, there are three free city buses that connect the city centre stations Victoria to Oxford and Deansgate, Piccadilly to Salford, and some connect to Piccadilly bus station, Shudehill bus station and the National bus station.

Lol. But the buses in Manchester cost about 60p anyway. Not like here where it costs 1.25 or more from my house to town.

Dyson house isn't too far off complete demolition now. Not alot left at all. The square is coming along very nicely too.

Yea, saw it yesterday when I went to the Showroom. Clearing up quickly!

Yea, saw it yesterday when I went to the Showroom. Clearing up quickly!
Next time you go to the Showroom,ask them to have a word with who ever owns the building and tell them to repaint all the windows and the railings on the steps. The whole building looks a bit dingey on the outside and now its all there for everyone to see when leaving the station.

Claims on the to let sign say it's office/hotel site? Is it the building up for sale, or the plot of land, that is, are the buyer obligued the destroy NMB?

Oh god, please say yes!

Update: the latest minutes from the S1 board meeting state that 5 development bids have been approved for proceeding to a final round from which a winner will be chosen. The deadline for detailed proposals from the 5 to proceed to the next round passed on 30 June. The winner has to submit a planning application within 4 months of appointment. All the finalists involve combining the NMB plot and the adjoining site.

Dull dull dull without any pictures yet!!

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j217/hellagood88/aebf9e03.jpg

Yes!!! Sheaf House (or is it dyson, i get them mixed up) has nearly gone!!!!

I see you've been out about town with your camera ^^

Fantastic! Lets hope something is done soon to add a nice new building there!

I see you've been out about town with your camera ^^

lol yes i get about. i have a usual photography route which covers most main developments. its a killer though, especially in this weather!

i go from the roxy car park, down to the station, back up to st pauls place, to the city hall via carmel house, along to west one and the devonshire green and over to sinclairs. then up to the information commons building, down westbar to v1 and metier, up the hill to v2 and v3. along to the law courts, to hancock and lant, then head towards park square and over the bridges for pics of the square, past ponds forge, back up along aundrel gate to do some shopping, then usually back to the roxy car park.

- thats the usual routine, but it differs from time to time depending on which new developments emerge/ how i feel/the weather/ time. but it only usually takes me an hour and a half anyway.

lol yes i get about. i have a usual photography route which covers most main developments. its a killer though, especially in this weather!

i go from the roxy car park, down to the station, back up to st pauls place, to the city hall via carmel house, along to west one and the devonshire green and over to sinclairs. then up to the information commons building, down westbar to v1 and metier, up the hill to v2 and v3. along to the law courts, to hancock and lant, then head towards park square and over the bridges for pics of the square, past ponds forge, back up along aundrel gate to do some shopping, then usually back to the roxy car park.

- thats the usual routine, but it differs from time to time depending on which new developments emerge/ how i feel/the weather/ time. but it only usually takes me an hour and a half anyway.

I'd say you need to get out more....but you obviously do!

its just a nice walk really, it keeps me fit anyway. i dont do it all the time, im not that sad :)

Get a bike! You could do the whole lot in 15 minutes!

Fantastic! Lets hope something is done soon to add a nice new building there!

Supposedly the e-campus phase 3 is going on the iste on Dyson/Sheaf House

If this is the case, we'll definately be talking low rise.

Hopefully there will be room to sell a bit of the land to a private developer for apartments. That's probably the only way any building in this loction will approach the heights Dyson and Sheaf previously reached.

I've said this before but low rise could be great outside the station, look at Princes Exchange outside Leeds station, no great height but very iconic, modern and striking looking.

http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/th_IMG_2944.jpg (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/IMG_2944.jpg)
(click to enlarge)

Latest Sheaf Square pic
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/0abd6303.jpg
Does anyone else think the Showroom badly needs a good clean, hope the council pressures them to sort their exterior out it will let Sheaf Square down otherwise

Dyson House about to be history -RIP!!
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/3ebc2fff.jpg

I'd like to see something like this as well but maybe a bit better designed. I would like lots of glass. It would go well with the water feature.

Good to see Sheaf Square's finally getting there.

OMG I did'nt know Dyson House was that small now. It is quite sad in a way. The area looks so different.

that is gonna be one busy square once it opens! the amount of people that pour in and out of that station at peak times is hurrendous! it will be well used..

Does anyone else think the Showroom badly needs a good clean, hope the council pressures them to sort their exterior out it will let Sheaf Square down otherwise

Skyfits, i have mentioned on here the other week regarding the Showroom being grubby,they repainted the cream section a couple of months ago, but the grab rails on the stairs all the black paint has peeled off, The section with the curry house needs a good clean and all the windows are rusting and as for the cheap 80's extention on the roof dont get me started on that!

Let's hope it's built to last then!

The station square should definately have cafes & outside seating going on. Wish they'd employ more people and whip it up dubai-style.

I think the Great Wall Of China took less time to build than this project!

When is this going to be finished? It's been looking the same for a while now. I'm excited about the prospect of the new square but it's annoying having to go around the site at the moment. Guess it'll all be worth it in the end though!

December this year apparently. Like they say Good things come to those who wait.

Let's take this with a Weston Park Museum-pinch of salt. If they say December this year, look forward to a summer 2007 opening!

I think December seems like a safe bet. They are slowly getting there.

I think December seems like a safe bet. They are slowly getting there. Only thing i've been wondering is, are they gonna have a big building site on the spot where dyson & sheaf houses were until they start working on the e-campus or what?

I think they'll keep the Dyson/Sheaf site empty with hoardings until they're ready, like how they've done with the St Paul's place sites.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j217/hellagood88/550e7cf9.jpg

nothing left of dyson:

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j217/hellagood88/65cce96c.jpg

The station front is looking very good! You know the blade, i hope the gaps between each section are going to be filled in!

Still the front is light years away from what it used to be like!

The above photo really does go to show the Showroom is in desperate need of a facelift.

On that pic the sculpture looks like a horrible steel wall blocking off the view of the Howard and University. Hope it looks better in real life.

On that pic the sculpture looks like a horrible steel wall blocking off the view of the Howard and University. Hope it looks better in real life.

It is just that indeed.

I, myself, am somewhat unsure about this feature?!?

I think something upright, tall and striking would have been better to signify our steel history.

The blade is a little imposing but i think it is needed in order to give the square a bit of tranquility. The beauty of the peace gardens and millenium square is that there is no big busy road disturbing it.

The blade is a little imposing but i think it is needed in order to give the square a bit of tranquility. The beauty of the peace gardens and millenium square is that there is no big busy road disturbing it.

Agreed it does a great job of screening off the busy road but wouldn't go as far as calling it a sculpture.

Still .... time will tell, we may be very pleasantly surprised!

I think the wall does help with the busy road, you only have to walk down that road and notice the traffic is none stop, but it is ment to have water and lighing on it when its done isnt it? So it should look better then.

Driving towards Park Square roundabout, the sculpture blocks the view of the station by some degree. Coming the other way though isn't so bad. But for pedestrians leaving the station, no longer will they be immediately faced with a noisy dual carriageway, but a landscaped public square.

As a motorist, its sad to see the view of the station frontage blocked but as a pedestrian it will be a much nicer experience.

On my way home past the station tonight i noticed they are cleaning up all the stone archers on the station front,they have done the middle two so far,it looks so much cleaner than the remaining untouched ones.

i meant posting about the sandblasting. saw it the other day. looks alot better.

I am glad about that because it would be a shame to do up all the rest of the station and leave the actual frontage all mucky.

The sclupture at the shorter end if only about head-height, so shouldn't block views of Haward St and the centre. Anyway, St Paul's Tower will stand proudly about it!

Just noticed today that a large part of the train station frontage has been sand blasted, wow what a difference it makes!!

http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/th_trainstationpano230806sml.jpg (http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/trainstationpano230806sml.jpg)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/6180abfb.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/390b30df.jpg

The only section of the arches sand blasted so far, sure it will look great when it's finished
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/9b2db43a.jpg

Wow, thats gonna look awesome

It's been like that for a while. They havn't done anything on it for atleast a month so maybe they're waiting till the square's finished.

Any news on whats going on opposite the square, on the site of the NMB?? Its gone very quiet on that front.

It's part of the e-campus isn't it?

Or was that earmarked for a hotel/retail? I hope it's retail!

The majority of the station's facade has now been restored and looks gorgeous, it's mazing what a good clean can do!!

Heres the Station entrance before the sand-blasting
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/18.jpg

and after the blasting!
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/19.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/20.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/21.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/22.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/23.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/25-1.jpg

and a crappy pano (sorry I was in a rush!) of the new ticket office
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/26.jpg

Wow. looks great. Is the square getting anywhere at the moment?

The majority of the new squares paving is complete, it shouldn't be too much longer until it is finished and the the 'Cutting Edge' sculpture is unveiled :cheers:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y257/Steelcityrise/24.jpg

wo! what a difference! the plaza is gonna be great once its done

I arrived in Sheffield by train yesterday, and was impressed with most of the station development so far. I'd like to see a large hotel go upon the old Sheaf House site. Sheffield is one of the few cities with no major hotels near its main transport interchange - travellers currently have a walk or taxi ride ahead of them no matter what hotel they are staying in.

While most bus traffic terminates at the bus station, I'd like to see the airport shuttle bus - if it ever comes - stop at Sheaf Square, providing a 'seamless' connection for travellers heading for the airport who arrive in the city by train.

One last point. Upon arriving at Sheffield station from the south, the first thing you see is an old, rusting metal footbridge. The rest of the station is being redeveloped, but it seems that this bridge doesn't even merit a lick of paint!

I always thought it a shame that the bridge to which you are referrin hasn't had a lick of paint.

I'd also hoped that an interchange could be placed neaer to the station, perhaps a mini-interchange, but I doubt that this will ever happen

Is the current bus station not about as close to the station as possible without being part of the train station itself.

Anyway. There's a mini interchange proposed at the bottom of howard street.

[QUOTE=Bladerunner]I arrived in Sheffield by train yesterday, and was impressed with most of the station development so far. I'd like to see a large hotel go upon the old Sheaf House site. Sheffield is one of the few cities with no major hotels near its main transport interchange - travellers currently have a walk or taxi ride ahead of them no matter what hotel they are staying in. QUOTE]

According to the S1 board meeting on 17/7/06 they were 2 weeks away from appointing a developer from a final shortlist of bidders for the old NMB site which is earmarked for a hotel or offices. Fingers crossed there should soon be an announcement about this prime spot: we may yet get a flagship hotel there. Then again, it has been almost 2 months since the planned appointment and the scheme should be already designed as they were the rules of the bidding.

Is the current bus station not about as close to the station as possible without being part of the train station itself.

Anyway. There's a mini interchange proposed at the bottom of howard street.
Totally agree with you there Paul, but i can already see a problem brewing, they are building the bus pull in as we speak near the corner towards the Spar. Now i predict that this layby will be forever blocked by cars taxi's nipping in to spar,so just wait for the queues of traffic whilst the bus loads passengers up in the middle of the dual carraige way on a corner!!

I used the station this weekend and was pleased with the way its all coming along. When I first turned up at Sheffield, years ago, I was shocked at the general station area and the way it seemed seperated form the centre, hopefully this will all b e sorted soon. And with regards the cars stopping in a bus stop for Spa, I don' think it will be that big a problem and if it is the only solution would be to have a traffic warden just stood their doling out tickets to evryone who tried it until people got the message.

A hotel would be a good option for this area - especially if it's tall. Mmmmmm

The plan was for a hotel on the NMB site, but if no-one wants to develop the site, it won't happen. Still, it should be OK since it is a prime site.

^^

Well by the sounds of what Alfie say's below, they've got plenty of people bidding for the site.


According to the S1 board meeting on 17/7/06 they were 2 weeks away from appointing a developer from a final shortlist of bidders for the old NMB site which is earmarked for a hotel or offices. Fingers crossed there should soon be an announcement about this prime spot: we may yet get a flagship hotel there. Then again, it has been almost 2 months since the planned appointment and the scheme should be already designed as they were the rules of the bidding.

http://static.flickr.com/105/282586894_03d3f69357_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/108/282586838_1af7cbe723_o.jpg

it's looking really good, if a little stoney at present but that's nothing a couple of trees and a splash of water can't sort out. i remember thinking the same thing about the peace gardens when they built that.

regarding the cutting edge, i was down at the station last weekend on a sunny afternoon and the glare coming off the sculpture (where some of the wrapping had been romoved) was blinding. it won't affect drivers because the sun's on the other side all day but i fear for the pedestrians.

^^ You don't realise how big the square's gonna be, until you see it in real life. I suppose it'll be smaller once the E-Campus buildings are built too.

The Sheffield entry will look a whole lot better when City Lofts is completed, guiding you 'downtown'.

it's true the square looks massive but if you view it from above from the car park roof you can see that the area where sheaf and dyson house stood makes up for most of that space. the new square is actually quite small. it definately needs enclosing with some impressive new buildings.

Yea, e-campus on Sheaf/Dyson house sites, and the hotel on the NMB.

Have they started opening the Square? Paul, your photos look like the fencing has been removed.

Nah, I managed to squize my camera between the bars where they were a bit bent :-P

Only because you bent them ;)

(i've done it before like)

Nah. I've was very good and didn't vandelise anything. (Much :-P)

Good to see the walkway from the station to howard street opened up partially, it looks so good walking up the ramp and then turning the corner and seeing howard street all lit up. (eventually you might see a 100 metre skyscraper just to the left of the top too)!

Can't wait too see the lighting at the base of the sculpture, I heard its supposed to float on a river of blue lighting.

Do we think this will be ready for christmas? I don't think its out of the question. I like how this will be a unique area for sheffield, no other UK city seems to have such a gateway at its train station.

The station and area around is looking great now, and everyday that I walk to uni I notice minor changes, and it is all coming together. I wounder if they plan on finishing minor details in the station, such as painting the area around Burger King, or adding the new cash machines that were added, then were boarded up?

Just found this (Dunno if it's been shown before, but I can't be bothered to look)

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/2010/stsqnew7.jpg

Shit, where did you find that?

the square looks good all lit up, but theres still no indication of what the buildings will be like.

http://static.flickr.com/105/282586894_03d3f69357_o.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/108/282586838_1af7cbe723_o.jpg

Drove past tonight,when you go over the original crossing there are now 6 of those steel bollards,and they were uplit tonight with blue neon spot lights looked really nice.

I have been past tonight (thursday) at 9.30pm and the roadway is being finished with line painting and other works seem to be happening even at this time of night. It seems they (streetforce?) are really pulling the stops out to get the highway finished. Which we should all be greatful for. :)

Ye they seem to do the road all at night, i went past last Saturday and they were doing the tarmac. Its all looking pretty finished, probs open after Xmas im guessing. The station had aload of blue plastic covers up today over the windows near the ticket parts, not sure what that was about, unless they are painting it or something (which it certainly does need painting, where Burger king is it doesnt look like its been painted for years.)

Yeah the bit near burger king has been left! Sort it out!lol.

They should also get a new Sheffield sign to the North of the station on this like little building too, its really old.

Oh and whilst im ranting, sort the new(never been open) cash machines out:)

That is all!lol

Ye I noticed them old Sheffield signs when I was on the train today, kind of a old faded blue with all the letters faded. And I dont know if they plan to put them cash machines in yet, because they seem to be boarded up now. While they are at it they could remove that old shop thats next to platform 1 and the stairs which has been closed since the station got re-done.

Oh yeah the Shop named - Shop.

Should re-open a new unit there really.

Yeah thats the sign i was on about, all the paint is flaking a bit.

Nice to see a big Xmas tree going up in Sheaf Square outside the station:nuts:

http://static.flickr.com/114/308866962_cba8f54664.jpg?v=0

http://static.flickr.com/100/306636325_7dfb5a5d2c.jpg?v=0

Yea, I noticed the tree when I used the station last week heading to London for the West Ham Game. Noticed that there's a sign outside (of the design of the other new city centre navigation signs) with a plan view of the platforms.

Where's this shop and staircase next to platform 1?

Is that water I see? Have they completed some of the fountains then?

A decent trainshed overall roof would be frightfully frightfully nice instead of those minimalist platform awnings. There are small towns in East Yorkshire with better than that.

IMHO the old Midland Railway badly short-changed the principal cities it 'served' in our Northern heartland and its core territory, fobbing them off with stations utterly unworthy of such major centres - Leicester, Nottingham, Leeds and Bradford as well as Sheffield - preferring to lavish its money on that overelaborate monstrosity at London Spankers, and to a lesser extent its share of main terminals in Manchester, Liverpool, Brum and Bristol.

Too much to expect our Londoncentric 'Network Rail' and HMG to belatedly do the decent thing, though they did it after a fashion for the Eurostar terminal at London Waterloo (soon to become a white elephant after just a few years' use when its function and the trains transfer to Spankers).

Other deficiencies: Sheffield badly needs a direct high quality travolator or suchlike linking the rail and coach stations with the core of the city centre, and perhaps the other direction also to Park Hill (preferably in conjunction with demolition of this (LISTED for Chrissake!!) appalling 1960s concrete jungle and its replacement by more civiised development.

Welcome to the forum ChrisV.

Whilst the station has some shortcomings I think its important to realise how far its come over the last few years. The infoboards are clear and I haven't seen better anywhere else in the country - i much prefer ours to the ones at Manc and Leeds, their writing is too small. There is plenty of space and retail in the station has been improved also. With a unique station square, the whole staion area looks like it could belong to England's fourth largest city, which noone could have said 3 or 4 years ago.

Also, Park Hill flats are being completely overhauled by Urban Splash

Also, to answer the questions above:

the shop is just to the left of "left luggage"
and as far as I know the water in the fountain is just collected rainwater.

Do we think they'll get it all done for Christmas day?

^^nah, just been raining recently :)

Thanks for that.

Re station, points taken as far as they go, and I acknowledge the improvements done/ being done albeit from a very low base, but IMHO the main rail terminal will never look or feel truly worthy of one of UK's/Britain's/Englands/Northern England's largest and greatest cities without it has a (decently designed and executed) proper trainshed overall roof and not just wayside station style platform canopies.

Re Park Hill, would be interested to see how they're going to make a silk purse out of this monstrous pig's ear. Do you know of any info sources on internet?

Agreed. Cities like Leeds, Manchester, York and Newcastle have much better stations with arched roofs. Didn't the old Sheffield Victoria station have a roof covering all platforms?

Agreed. Cities like Leeds, Manchester, York and Newcastle have much better stations with arched roofs. Didn't the old Sheffield Victoria station have a roof covering all platforms?

All these stations are electric (although some of the trains will be diesel).

I'm quite glad Sheffield isn't covered - it means the air isn't too polluted. I can't really see the point in adding a new roof over all of the station; what would it achieve (apart from removing millions of pounds from the infrastructure budget that could be spent on far better things)? Leeds had a new roof a few years ago, but it's awful. Even on a sunny day it always seems dingy to me. I'd much rather have open skies personally.

Didn't the old Sheffield Victoria station have a roof covering all platforms?

Yes but it wasn't arched, just a pitched roof of similar type and scale to those which virtually every small town in East Yorkshire had at one time, mostly designed by George Hudson's favourite architect George Townsend ('GT') Andrews of York (two survivors in railway use at Beverley and Filey; one at Pocklington now converted to a school gym; the rest sadly obliterated). By the time I first saw and travelled through it in 1960 Victoria had lost its overall roof in favour of grotty British Railways platform canopies.

What Victoria did have at the time, however, was Briatain's first and at that time only inter-city electrified rail route, to Manchester via Woodhead tunnel, regrettably closed in the 1970s as Too Good For Northerners.

Anyway Victoria's gone now and it aint coming back.

All these stations are electric (although some of the trains will be diesel).

I'm quite glad Sheffield isn't covered - it means the air isn't too polluted. I can't really see the point in adding a new roof over all of the station; what would it achieve (apart from removing millions of pounds from the infrastructure budget that could be spent on far better things)? Leeds had a new roof a few years ago, but it's awful. Even on a sunny day it always seems dingy to me. I'd much rather have open skies personally.

The answer is to carry out long overdue electrification rather than not have a proper roof. NB see my posting above re the pioneering electric mainline railway Sheffield DID have till our colonial masters took it away.

What a proper roof would achieve is the practical objective of sheltering the punters (and platform staff if any) from wind and driving rain, and the psychological objectives of (a) making it clear the traveller is arriving in a great city, not small town or wayside junction, and (b) adding an imposing architectural ornament to the city. It works in York, Hull, Newcastle and even Darlington among others. Why not Sheffield.

Re Leeds, It's a pity the original unique trussed mansard roofing (designed as a lightweight alternative to the barrrel-vaulted roofing which would have been used if the station hadn't been entirely on fragile arches) didn't survive, but decades of the Leeds soot got at it. I saw it come down and its unimpressive successor go up. I haven't yet had chance to see the latest replacement effort so will have to take your word for it; but it doesn't have to be like that, we can do better.

The answer is to carry out long overdue electrification rather than not have a proper roof. NB see my posting above re the pioneering electric mainline railway Sheffield DID have till our colonial masters took it away.

What a proper roof would achieve is the practical objective of sheltering the punters (and platform staff if any) from wind and driving rain, and the psychological objectives of (a) making it clear the traveller is arriving in a great city, not small town or wayside junction, and (b) adding an imposing architectural ornament to the city. It works in York, Hull, Newcastle and even Darlington among others. Why not Sheffield.



A new roof would be very expensive, but it would be relatively easy to cover the existing tracks if the will was there. Shame such a scheme wasn't part of the current renovations.

I dont actually like the large roofs that much. I think they look out of place, like having a big warehouse in the middle of town.

(Although admittedly, it would seem like you were entering a big city).

I dont actually like the large roofs that much. I think they look out of place, like having a big warehouse in the middle of town.


So presumably you'd feel the same about cathedrals and similarly large places of worship or other assembly? (I mean proper cathedrals, not ordinary parish churches messed about a bit and renamed cathedrals, like Sheffield's).

I mean from the outside.

It's a pity there are no plans for electrification of Sheffield. It'd probably result in a new line to bid for, and some competition for MidlandMainline.

Yeah, I'd love to see electrification with local stopping services to Chesterfield, Hope Valley, Stocksbridge, Barnsley, Doncaster, Worksop etc. Create a kind of commuter rail.

Yes indeed. Pending creation of a proper TGV/Thalys high speed rail network, I'd like to see services such as a competitor/supplement to Hull Trains via Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester / Derby, Brum etc, not going the great way round via Selby and using the avoiding line at Doncaster for speed instead of being held uselessly at Doncaster station for several minutes.

At least Sheffields station is better than Derbys, thats being held up by temp scafolding and has been for the last year or so.

The squares looking really good now. It's gonna be a pretty impressive entrance to Sheffield.

The squares looking really good now. It's gonna be a pretty impressive entrance to Sheffield.


the trees that have been planted make a huge difference and they dont have any leaves on them either.

^^I never noticed till today, how huge the water feature will be. And I think the Cutting Edge will look really smart too.

They were taking the black stuff off the sculpture other day when iwent to match. It looks very shiny!

Yeah i think the idea might be for you to see your reflection as you walk up. pretty classy

:blahblah:

Wow! Looks impressive!

Anyone know what's going between Sheaf Street and Pond Street/Flat Street? They seemed to be building something the other day.

isnt there a mini bus interchange or something going in the middle of it, im sure I saw it on a plan months ago, unless it changed since then, as its quite a big bit of land.

Its all looking nearly done now, the station area seems its just a few bits and bobs to do, and next to the cinema they have built the steps, just need paving doing around there.

Wow! Looks impressive!

Anyone know what's going between Sheaf Street and Pond Street/Flat Street? They seemed to be building something the other day.

If you mean at the bottom of howard street, I think there's gonna be a mini bus interchange, and some building's.