Sheffield City Region Development Conference

Sheffield Hallam University – Dan Ladbury, Director of Estates and Facilities

Sheffield Hallam recently revealed plans for three new buildings in the city centre of Sheffield, the latest in their quest to become the “world’s leading applied university.” The new campus will be “zero carbon ready” by using the latest technology and measures as well as 4,300 sq ft of green space. Dan will join the session to give more intel on this new campus and look ahead to Sheffield Hallam’s future campus development plans.

Kirklees Council – David Shepard, Strategic Director of Growth and Regeneration

Four major projects comprise the £250m Huddersfield Blueprint which comprises the creation of a Cultural Heart and Town Park near the University of Huddersfield, an enhances Station Gateway, improving the New Street Area of the Town Centre with investment into mixed use space, replacing the Bus Station and rethinking Cross Church Street. Shabir joins the event to give an update on this as well as the Dewsbury Blueprint which will see 3500 new homes delivered in the next decade.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport – Liz Askam, Property Manager

£1.6bn of construction investment planned as part of their ambitious masterplan which includes 1.5m sq ft of airside development, 3m sq ft of logistics and advanced manufacturing space, 3,000 new homes and retail, hotel and leisure complexes. Liz will give us insight into the masterplan, the £10 million expansion announced at the end of January 2020 and future development plans at the airport.

Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council – Scott Cardwell, Assistant Director for Development

Doncaster is currently seeing major regeneration in 9 developments zones as part of its town centre masterplan; new retail space, a new museum and library, a cinema complex, a train station face-lift and more are part of the plans to transform the town.

Harworth Group – Peter Henry, Director of Sustainability

Earlier this year Harworth Group appointed Peter Henry to the newly created role of Director of Sustainability at the developer having been integral to forming many of Harworth’s key driving principles for sustainable regeneration and placemaking since he joined the business. Peter will join the conference to discuss Harworth’s sustainable and net zero strategy including their recently announced plans to bring forward over 1,200 sustainable BTR homes across 10 sites and how they will increase sustainability in their future developments which include c.10,000 homes and 7.3m sq ft of commercial space currently going through planning.

Kennedys – Helen Johnson, Partner

Helen is head of real estate & construction at Kennedys Law LLP. Helen specialises in construction projects and disputes, and acts for developers, contractors and professional consultants. Helen has lived in Sheffield for 12 years and is an executive board member of Sheffield Property Association.

Kennedys is a global law firm comprised of over 2,000 people, in 58 offices in 22 countries across the UK, Europe, Asia Pacific, UAE and the Americas.

Our vision is to become the go-to firm for straightforward, expert legal advice, wherever in the world our clients require it. Drawing on the extensive resources and expertise of our global network, we are committed to providing a seamless service to our clients, wherever they may be.

Sheffield City Region Combined Authority – Dave Smith, Chief Executive Officer

Dave heads up the team responsible for delivering its £350m programme to drive prosperity across the region and its 68,000 businesses.

He works with an immensely strong private-public partnership which has helped create investment-ready opportunities for many foreign owned companies with a base in the region.

On this event he’ll share details on how they’re working to attract most investment and unlock more development across the city region.

HBD – Tom Wheldon, Director & Head of Yorkshire & North East Region

HBD are one of the most active private sector developers in the North Yorkshire region. They are currently developing a £107m scheme on the site of the former Terry’s chocolate HQ. Aptly titled, The Chocolate Works, the scheme will see the delivery of 163 individually designed apartments where the main multi-storey factory once was, as well as 22 bespoke apartments within The Clock Tower building. The Chocolate Works will also include a new brain surgery hospital creating 145 healthcare jobs, and retaining a vital health service in the city following the closure of The Retreat.

Waystone Hargreaves Land – Lee Weatherall, Senior Planning & Development Manager

Waystone Hargreaves Land have massive plans for Doncaster; a new 800,000 sq ft regional distribution centre and training facility that will create more than 1,000 jobs. This scheme is part of the Unity development which will see over 2 million sq ft of employment space, 3,100 new homes, a new marina, school, transport hub and open spaces be built over the coming years.

Willmott Dixon – Julia Barratt, Chief Sustainability Officer

Julia Barrett has led Willmott Dixon’s sustainability agenda since 2012.     Willmott Dixon is a privately-owned contracting and interior fit-out group.  Founded in 1852, it creates value for customers, stakeholders and communities by working in a sustainable and responsible way to shape the built environment and make a positive impact to society’s well-being.

Julia chairs the company’s Gender Diversity Steering Group and is a board member of both the Aldersgate Group and Supply Chain Sustainability School. She is passionate about sustainability, and inspiring and leading change across the built environment sector.

An experienced environment and sustainability professional, Julia is a Chartered Engineer, Chartered Environmentalist and Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers.  She previously worked for Cambridgeshire County Council, the Environment Agency and ICI in various technical and commercial roles.

Godwin Developments – Stuart Pratt, Group Development Director

Having recently acquired a one acre site in Sheffield to develop a 300 home BTR scheme, Stuart will join the panel to discuss the strategic importance of the Sheffield City Region and why the Godwin Group see the city of Sheffield as a great place to develop.

Capital & Centric – Tim Heatley, Co-Founder

Capital & Centric are ‘re-writing the rules on town centre living’ with their latest plans in Bolton. C&C are planning to create “Neighbourhood Bolton” and are bringing forward plans for the first few areas on 6.2 acres of brownfield sites in and around Bradshawgate. Neighbourhood Bolton is set to regenerate the area around the town’s train and bus stations with the aim of being a catalyst that kick-starts wider regeneration of the whole area. Tim is leading on C&C’s ambitions and will join the conference to outline this scheme as well as the positive progress they’ve been making on their schemes in Wigan, Stockport, and Manchester.

Sheffield City Council – Janet Sharpe, Director of Housing & Neighbourhoods

Sheffield Council is investing heavily in council housing over the coming decade, with £500 million already proposed to building new housing and improving existing council homes. Janet will tell us more about the councils plans which could see over 3,000 new council home built over the next 10 years.

Forge New Homes – Andy Beattie, Project Director

Backed by 5 leading housing associations in South Yorkshire, Forge New Homes are breaking into the market with their first scheme in the Sheffield City Region. Keen to grow and forge new partnerships, Andy will take us through their ambitious plans and future pipeline.

Sheffield Property Association – Martin McKervey, Chair

Martin is Chair of the Sheffield Property Association (the S-PA), an independent association of individuals and organisations with an interest in land, property and development in Sheffield and the City Region. The S-PA is the collective voice of property in Sheffield.  It exists to inform policy-makers, promote investment and drive economic prosperity across the city. The S-PA was forged in the city as the only formally constituted Property Association outside of London. It showcases the city at home and abroad and seeks to ensure that Sheffield resonates positively in our nation’s capital and around the world.