In recent months Sheffield City Council has made significant steps towards the planned improvement of Ellesmere Green. After consultation with local businesses, community groups and presentations to the Area Panel, the council can now set out their vision for this important green space. The scheme, headed up by Chris Birks, Project Officer with the City Development Division of the council, was granted planning permission at the end of October 2007.
Plans are for a ‘Town Garden’ on the green, together with a new open market square and community event space on Ellesmere Road, in front of the shops. Paving surrounding the green will be improved and renewed with new seating, tree planting, street lighting and reorganised parking. Better lighting and CCTV improvements will provide a safer space for the whole community. Public art will also be a part of the scheme, artists will work with the local community in the production of new art for the area.
It is anticipated that Ellesmere Green and Spital Hill will become a destination for shoppers from across the city looking for a more varied cultural mix of food and other goods.
Plans also include improving the paving and setting of the newly refurbished Vestry Hall, where it is expected that work will start on site in early Spring 2008. These improvements will give a taste of what to expect across the whole scheme with high quality materials being used throughout. The quality of the streets will be similar to the ones in parts of the city centre and those being constructed now on the Wicker.
The council is currently working to secure funding to realise all elements of the scheme. The plans will improve the image of the area and give a boost to local enterprise. Burngreave New Deal for Communities will be working with local people to assist in the start up of new trading ventures. BNDfC's Neighbourhood Enterprise Champions are working closely with the council to make this part of the proposals work well and ensure that local ‘budding entrepreneurs’ are fully supported to develop their business and trading ideas.
The plans link to the creation of an attractive new gateway from Burngreave along Spital Hill and the Wicker to the city centre.