Castlegate development news

[Wendigo Wendigo]

I was under the impression that all that's left of the castle is about 3 bricks. Has anyone here ever seen the castle remains? Does anyone know if there's enough of it left to be worth putting on show?

[Bladerunner]

Originally Posted by Wendigo Wendigo

I was under the impression that all that's left of the castle is about 3 bricks. Has anyone here ever seen the castle remains? Does anyone know if there's enough of it left to be worth putting on show?

There is an old wall.

It is possible to see the castle remains it via a door and some stairs in Castle Market. The door is always kept locked unfortunately. I saw the remains many years ago.

[1867]

According to their web site, Sheffield Markets operates visits to Sheffield Castle ruins on Thursdays and Saturdays - appointments only


http://www.sheffieldmarkets.co.uk/castle-ruins.php

[soupçon]

The development plan for the area has a new diagonal tree-lined route going from near Castle Square to where the market is, through what is the Coop now. It's similar to the new route in Sevenstone cutting across Cole Brothers. I'll see if I can find a piccy.

[soupçon]

Hmmmm. Looks like the Masterplan has been superseded by another one. Although it does mention that it's unlikely that Primark and Coop would be altering their existing retail outlets, so it shows how quickly things change.

[jt132]

The coop and primark (well the old bit and not the extension) might not need to be demolished to acheive the pedestrian corridor see-

image hosted on flickr

[hella good]

i dont think i like that idea

[paulmat]

I do. I think it looks amazing. Just as long as it doesn't involve a lot of wholesale demolition, which it looks like it would require.

Looks like the Castle Markets building would have to go (well, we already know it is), the building next to that, and I don't know how they would manage the top bit. Looks like it would need to demolish both the Co-op building, and Primark!!!

[jt132]

Donno you may be able to keep the old bit of primark and the main bit of castle house- you could just demolish the shitie back bits on king street... maybe?
-
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=...5685&encType=1

[paulmat]

Hmm, yeah, looks like it could be done actually. If they removed that dodgy extension to Primark (something I wish they'd get rid of anyway), and then demolished the buildings on the other side of that street, behind the Co-op, they could maybe manage it. Although it wouldn't have such a curving shape to the street, and it would be dead down the back of Primark.

[AndrewC]

I don't see the point in the bit behind Primark. Why not just improve the high street down to where whasis name square is and then down to the old town hall? I can see that little section being dead,like Paulmat says.

I do like the general idea though. Especially from the old town hall down to the quays.

Oh, and not so many shops along these streets either i hope, otherwise you undo the good that Sevenstone will do in compacting the retail core. Lots of restaurants, cafes and bars would be better, with the usual lunch-time stuff for office workers.

[paulmat]

How about...

1) Rip up Castle Square - it's an abomonation of a square. Probably the most pedestrian unfriendly pedestrian square i've ever seen!

2) I love the idea of the 'green route' down the tram tracks. Why not carry this on down to Fitzalan Square instead of cutting through Primark and Co-op? Also while you're at it, get rid of that extention on primark and refurbish it into a really great big store.

3) Fitzalan Square could do with a bit of a refresh - remove the trees to open it up, get rid of that counter on it and adjust some of the bus routes. Then demolish the betting shop, the superdrug and the old halfords buildings, replacing them with 7/8 storey mid rises (might I suggest red brick and sandstone?) containing apartments and offices. Create a bit of a dining area what with the redeveloped post office, and some restaurants in the units of the new buildings.

4)The whole area around Fitzalan Square, and most of Castlegate needs making more pedestrian friendly. Maybe split the bus route more so they don't all use the same road, meaning that many of the orads can be downgraded.

5)Bring the 'green route' off from fitzalan square and down castlegate, following the route proposed in the picture above down to the castle square.

6)Are there any retail units down the back of Castle House (opposite the back of Primark)? If there are, maybe they could be modernised and the street turned into a nice place for cafes. The current route through should be resurfaced, then with some better lighting, and maybe some art down the back of primark, the area could be nice with cafes spilling out onto the street.

7) The Old Court House (if it hasn't been completly stripped) could possibly be made into a bit of a tourist attraction, along with the castle remains. Otherwise it would be good for converion into an 'independant' shopping centre.

7) Obviously, the castle square needs doing. This could be nicely integrated with both the riverside, and the canal (although that's not quite so easy.

So, who thinks I should get a job as a masterplanner? (Or Master Planner...?)

[AndrewC]

I think you're spot on with most of that Paulmat. Carrying the pedestrian link down to fitzallan square was exactly what I was suggesting, I don't see the point in ripping an angled road through the back of Primark. HAving said that if it were for bars and cafes it might work.

[Bulldozer]

Interesting idea, but were are all these new bars and Cafe's going to get enough customers from ! how many can the City centre sustain, as a lot of pub trade is very mixed with volume of trade generally dropping. Some new places are busy, but when new ones open the trade moves on after 6 months or so as people look for some ware different.

[AndrewC]

I don't see why an area with massive office district potential couldn't have at least one short stretch of pedestrian street with lots of bars and cafes?

[Bladerunner]

Agree that Castle Square is pedestrian-unfriendly. It's the high metal barriers that do it. Thet got rid of similar barriers in places like Arundal Gate and it's a lot easier to get around

[hella good]

took this today because of this discussion

[eighty4]

thanks for that i couldnt picture the extension from memory.

The old part is actually a nice building, it kinda reminds me of central library

If you look you can see where the original C&A signs were

[hella good]

yeah, it shows you how dirty it got lol

[AdamBlade]

I don't think everywhere in the city centre needs to be made pedestrian friendly to be honest.