Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park has set out its vision to create a lasting environmental legacy for Sheffield - one of the country’s ‘greenest cities’.
South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System is part of a region-wide partnership (Legacy Park Ltd) which also comprises Sheffield City Council, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield City Trust, Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, and Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health Sciences Network and Darnall Well Being.
Project Lead Richard Caborn outlined plans for the next stage of investment and development at the world’s only Olympic legacy park outside a host city during a visit by Councillor Douglas Johnson - Sheffield City Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change and Environment, and other councillors..
Mr Caborn said: “I think there was very much a meeting of minds as we showed just how much has already been achieved from the industrial past of this site, and the council were very supportive of our plans for the continued development of Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park and the environmental, economic, educational and healthcare legacy we are trying to create.”
The environment is one of the four legacy themes of the Park which is reflected in the second phase of development which includes plans for improvements to public transport and cycling links to the unique site as well as opening up access to Sheffield and Tinsley Canal.
Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park is also looking for support for measures to improve air quality in the area, including rerouting HGV vehicles down Brightside Lane, rather than using Attercliffe as a short-cut.
Councillor Douglas Johnson, Executive Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport at Sheffield City Council, said: “It was fantastic to visit the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park and see first-hand the amazing work that has taken place to regenerate the area. The park is delivering for Sheffield on so many levels, driving the economy, supporting education, improving health & wellbeing, leading in pioneering national research and providing community and professional sporting facilities.
“On top of all that they’ve shown that sustainability is also at the core of the Park’s aims and objectives, addressing environmental issues relating to transport, clean air, climate change and our natural environment. The site is going from strength to strength, and we look forward to supporting and working together to deliver these environmental benefits for the people of Sheffield.”
Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park aims to create a unique cluster of health and wellbeing research, innovation and applied technology to drive the development of transformational economic growth and whole population health gain.
Through the four themes of sport, community, environment and economy, the Park is uniquely delivering a long-lasting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games that was at the heart of the UK’s bid.
The Park is already home to the English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EISS), Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC), Oasis Academy Don Valley, UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, National Centre for Sport & Exercise Medicine, Sheffield (NCSEM Sheffield) and National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering.
Major new health care, regeneration and sporting projects totalling more than £200m have also been unveiled for Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park. Flagship developments include a new National Centre for Child Health Technology (CCHT) and a ground-breaking diagnostic imagery research hub for Canon Medical Systems Europe.
Scarborough Group International (SGI) is bringing forward a development Masterplan for a first phase of up to 850,000 sq ft of workspace and ancillary facilities across an 80-acre zone.
Already on site and due for completion at the beginning of 2022 is the Community Stadium, and over the coming months SGI will set out its plans for what will be the heart of the Park, including an Enterprise Centre to support start-up and growing businesses in the health, wellbeing, sport and activity sectors.
Mr Caborn added: “The visit was very positive and I think there was a genuine recognition of the vital role that Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park can have as a catalyst for the regeneration of the Lower Don Valley.”
Photo caption: L to R Executive Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport at Sheffield City Council Cllr Douglas Johnson, Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park Project Lead Richard Caborn, Cllr Brian Holmshaw and Executive Member for Inclusive Economy, Jobs and Skills at Sheffield City Council Cllr Paul Turpin.