4.8 Riverside Quarter

Vision

The Riverside Quarter will be transformed to play a major role in economic regeneration of the city centre focused on the life and activity of the River Don. The celebration of the River Don corridor will be at the heart of its regeneration and the completion of the Inner Ring Road its catalyst for expansion and development.

The dramatic changes in the urban form of Riverside brought about by the IRR (Inner Relief Road) project will open many sites in the quarter to redevelopment opportunities. Major new traffic routes, in the form of carefully landscaped, tree lined boulevards, will offer high exposure to businesses choosing to locate in the area.

As the River Don winds through the Riverside Quarter, new developments will open onto its banks. Shops, cafes or bars at ground level will add vibrancy to the riverside. The water quality will continue to be improved as it is changed from an industrial resource to a centre of activity and recreation.

A network of paths, boardwalks and bridges along the river banks will connect cyclists and pedestrians through the northern part of the city centre, or allow the opportunity to quietly explore the river. Strong pedestrian connections will also link Riverside to the city centre, through Castle Market and the Cathedral Quarter.

Development in the quarter will be of the scale of the riverside works and warehouses, with more dominant forms along major traffic routes and at gateway sites. With the city’s riverside heritage preserved in Kelham Island and Victoria Quays, the Riverside Quarter will welcome bold, innovative and contemporary architecture, creating a new and distinct identity for the area.

Behind the major roadways, the street pattern and built form of Riverside will become more intimate and human scale, linking into the historic urban forms and street patterns of this traditional industrial area. The downgraded Nursery Street, open only to local traffic, could become the focus of an urban village which feeds into the life and activity of the Riverside and the Wicker.

Major public realm improvements will enhance Riverside’s role as the northern gateway to the city centre along the Wicker, Furnival Road and Corporation Street. A sense of arrival into the city will be conveyed through strong built form, planting or public art. Whilst these routes will carry a large amount of traffic, they will be designed to accommodate all forms of transport in a safe and attractive environment.

Riverside could become a popular destination for visitors to the city, with its quiet and attractive setting and close proximity to the city centre. The cluster of hotels in Riverside will support Sheffield’s tourism industry as well as conference facilities centred in both Riverside and the Sheaf Valley.

Due to the scale and complexity of the Riverside Quarter, a comprehensive masterplan study will be undertaken, addressing in detail the potential for sensitive yet vibrant riverside development and the means by which each of the areas within the quarter can successfully evolve.

Comparator projects

The Riverside, York The former Yorkshire Herald building has been adapted for use as a cinema in this riverside development. The activity of the cafes and bars spills out onto the boardwalks which create a series of public spaces along the riverside. A development such as this, which integrates both new and historic buildings and engages with its riverside location, would bring life and activity to the Riverside Quarter and a focus to the river.

Rotterdam Mixed Use Located on the waterfront in Rotterdam, this new residential development includes a variety of complementary uses at ground level such as offices and a health club. Whilst highly contemporary in terns if its form and composition, it complements the adjacent C19th warehouse through the quality of its design. The significance of shipping in the area is referenced in the material finishes with the use of timber cladding. A bold and contemporary development such as this, with its mix of uses and innovative design, would add life to the Riverside Quarter.

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