Sheffield Digital Campus

The Sheffield Digital Campus is the name for a new development in Sheffield City Centre, in the Sheaf Valley Quarter, close to the rail station and bus station. The £110 eCampus will be one of the most technologically advanced business sites in Europe and will firmly establish Sheffield as a centre for IT related and knowledge based industries in the UK, and Europe.

Sheffield's digital and creative business sectors are already a fast-growing sector, with the CIQ really pushing for an increase in the sector, and the Workstation having office space for small companies. This is a so-called 'next generation' park, which will offer over 600,000ft² [cite web|url=http://www.sheffielddigitalcampus.com|title=Sheffield digital campus|publisher=developers|accessdate=2007-10-23] of high quality office accommodation, as a custom built hub for digital, ICT, multi-media and software companies.

Partners include the developer Teesland/GMI, Sheffield City Council, Creative Sheffield, the city centre urban regeneration company and Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency.

As a purpose designed IT business centre, it is envisaged that the e-campus will generate a critical mass of economic activity in the city.

Over £1.6m of European funds are being invested in South Yorkshire's infrastructure and so it is hoped that businesses locating into the eCampus, may qualify for Regional Selective Assistance and Regional Enterprise Grants.

The layout of the e-campus will be flexible so to cater for companies of all sizes and to adapt to the changing needs of its inhabitants. The e-campus will be designed as a series of striking contemporary buildings and landscaped open spaces linking into the activity of the neighbouring university.

Construction

Construction of the campus has been divided into three phases.

Phase 1 will consist of 4 separate buildings of which 2 are already under construction and will be ready for occupation in Autumn 2008. Two further building will be constructed at a later date.

The Phase 2 building will be constructed on the site of the (now demolished) Nelson Mandela Building situated on the corner of Pinstone Street and Sheaf Street.

The Phase 3 building will be constructed on the site of the (now demolished) Sheaf House and Dyson House buildings, situated between Leadmill Road and Sheffield Station

References