Sheffield Highlights Key Housing and Regeneration Projects at UKREiiF Conference

Sheffield is set to present significant milestones in housing and regeneration at the UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) this week, as city officials seek to attract further investment and forge new partnerships.

A senior delegation from Sheffield City Council will attend the event in Leeds from 19 to 21 May, accompanied by key collaborators including Homes England, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), Sheffield Property Association, and both of the city’s universities. UKREiiF, recognised as the UK’s largest real estate and infrastructure conference, is expected to draw over 16,000 investors, developers, and representatives from national and local government.

Following the success of the £400 million-plus Heart of the City programme, Sheffield arrives at this year’s forum with several large-scale city centre projects advancing. The West Bar mixed-use regeneration continues apace, while new residential neighbourhood developments are emerging at Furnace Hill, Neepsend, and Moorfoot. These initiatives involve partnerships with organisations such as Capital&Centric, Citu, Rider Levett Bucknall, Great Places, Arup, and PfP Igloo. Additionally, projects like Station Campus and the redevelopment of the former Cole Brothers building are entering critical delivery phases, shaping the city’s forthcoming growth trajectory.

Housing remains a top priority for Sheffield, which aims to deliver 38,000 homes by 2039 through its Sheffield Together programme. This long-term housing partnership includes Sheffield City Council, Homes England, SYMCA, both universities, and multiple private sector partners. The strategy focuses on creating a more compact, sustainable, and vibrant city, with plans for significant densification in the city centre and new neighbourhoods on previously developed brownfield land. Approximately 20,000 homes are planned for the city centre alone to support urban living and meet housing demand.

Currently, around 2,000 homes are under active development, with over 10,000 housing starts anticipated across the short, medium, and long-term pipelines. Among these is the proposed transformation of Gleadless Valley, where the ‘Vision for the Valley’ programme aims to deliver about 1,100 new homes over the next decade, alongside enhancements to green spaces and community infrastructure.

At UKREiiF, Sheffield will also showcase commercial investment opportunities linked to the Sheffield Innovation Spine and the Don Valley Corridor. These areas have the potential to support more than 10,500 new homes, create substantial new commercial space, and generate over 18,500 jobs in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, research, and technology.

The city will further underline the importance of culture as a growth driver. Sheffield’s internationally recognised cultural assets—including Sheffield Theatres, its music and creative industries, and expanding film, design, and digital sectors—are increasingly integrated into regeneration projects.

Recent government funding, including support through the Northern Growth Corridor, City Investment Fund, South Yorkshire Defence Growth Deal, and specific investment in Sheffield Theatres, has reinforced national confidence in the city’s economic and cultural prospects.

Kate Josephs, Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council, commented: “Sheffield is coming to UKREiiF with real momentum. We have a clear long-term plan, and increasingly, that plan is being delivered on the ground.”

She added: “Confidence is rising. The city is increasingly recognised nationally as an exemplar for housing delivery, innovation-led regeneration and partnership working, with Government highlighting our clarity of purpose and collaborative approach.

“Major schemes are moving into construction, thousands of homes are in the pipeline, and new commercial and innovation spaces are taking shape. UKREiiF gives us the opportunity to build on that progress, unlock further investment and strengthen new partnerships. Yes, we have a strong long-term plan, but we are also focused on getting things done today.”

The Sheffield City Council delegation will include Kate Josephs and senior council leaders, alongside partners from the public, private, and cultural sectors. Sessions featuring Sheffield at the conference will cover topics such as:

• Sheffield Innovation Spine: Demand-Driven Delivery and a Pipeline Built for Growth
• Sheffield on the Global Stage: Culture as a Catalyst for Growth
• Don Valley Corridor: Rebuilding UK Industrial Strength for a New Era
• Is Gleadless Valley a New Blueprint for Estate Regeneration in the North?

Throughout the three-day event, Sheffield’s representatives will emphasise the city’s transition into the delivery phase of its long-term vision, highlighting housing, innovation-led regeneration, and strong partnership working as core elements of its growth strategy. This approach is supported by exceptional access to green spaces and iconic cultural assets, enhancing Sheffield’s overall lifestyle appeal.