Activity on the Street
Active uses at the ground floor of buildings can help promote
life at street level. When a connection is made between internal
and external spaces within a city, and there is a flow of activity,
a more animated street scene is the result.
Blank facades do not contribute to the appearance or activity
of the street and create potentially unsafe and intimidating pedestrian
environments. Well designed shop window displays can make a positive
contribution to streets during the day and also at night, throwing
out light and creating visual interest.
Most of the shop fronts in the key retail streets of Sheffield
city centre have display windows to exhibit goods and merchandise
which adds interest to the street. However, many streets outside
these retail areas are characterised by blank facades as a result
of their industrial nature. Often the 1960s developments make
no connection with the street and present monolithic blank facades
facing onto to major traffic routes, creating a hostile pedestrian
environment.
Where feasible it may be possible in the redevelopment, refurbishment
and conversion of some areas of the city centre to make the facades
at ground level more permeable to promote connections between
internal spaces and the street.
The use of the city centre’s streets and spaces, and the pedestrian
routes taken, are different during the evening and night to those
of the daytime. A city centre should offer its citizens and visitors
a lively and safe environment at all times. Within the city centre,
there are some “no go” or deserted areas at night which are bustling
during the day. The retail areas of The Moor, Fargate and Orchard
Square are practically deserted after the close of shops at 5.30pm,
aside from people en-route between car parks and evening venues.
There are certain areas in the city which have strong daytime
flows and remain well utilised throughout the evening. This includes
Division Street, with its mix of restaurants, cafes and bars,
and the “West Street run”, with its line of pubs. The Cultural
Industries Quarter contains many late night venues, including
restaurants, bars, cafes and clubs, making it a popular evening
destination.
The pedestrian connections between these different chains of
activities and the links to public transport, taxi ranks or parking
facilities need to be made safe and secure at all times of the
day and night.
There is a selection of outdoor cafes and markets located in
Sheffield city centre. The markets are located at the two ends
of the retail spine along Exchange Street, in the form of the
enclosed Castle Market in Castlegate and more informal stalls
housed under permanent pavilions in the Moor. These are thriving
commercial areas, however the outdoor spaces at both markets require
public realm improvements to provide a comfortable environment
for sellers and consumers throughout the year and a renewal of
their vitality and attractions to ensure they do not slowly decline.
