Urbanism
Environment
Design

info@urbed.coop

Gleadless Valley is a vast social housing estate, which was built in the south of Sheffield in the late 1950s. The innovative and experimental design was celebrated at the time of construction, and older residents still remember bus-loads of visitors who would travel to Gleadless Valley to view the unique design, whilst proud locals referred to the Valley as ‘Little Switzerland’, due to its park-like hilly terrain. The area was landscaped so as to retain a park-like quality, with housing spreading between the mature woodland. The steep terrain presents many development challenges, but also affords residents with excellent views across the city. The estate comprises roughly 4,600 homes, of which over 50% are council owned properties. 

More recently, the reputation and built fabric of Gleadless Valley has deteriorated. The Valley’s outdated housing stock has seen little repair or replacement since construction 60 years ago. Crime rates are higher than the city average, and green spaces have become challenging to manage and maintain.

In June 2018, Sheffield City Council appointed URBED - alongside ADE Regeneration - to analyse the present social, economic and environmental conditions in Gleadless Valley, and work with the current residents of Gleadless Valley towards establishing a new strategic masterplan for the neighbourhood. Following a rigorous community engagement and design development process, the final Masterplan documents were published in September 2022.

The purpose of the Masterplan is to ensure that co-ordinated, effective, and sustainable regeneration proposals are delivered in line with the vision for the area. It will also support the Council and its partners to bid for future funding opportunities to help deliver the masterplan goals.

The Gleadless Valley Masterplan has been created under the key themes of:

• Housing: The Housing Strategy aims to make the most of existing stock to preserve the Valley’s character, with improvements to existing homes that enhance security, communal areas and visual appearance. The masterplan will ensure that more of the types of homes people want and need are available, through remodelling and small-scale demolition and replacement of selected maisonettes and flats. Limited new build housing on underused land between and next to the Valley’s existing homes will also provide more suitable and desirable homes
• Shared and Green Spaces: Protect and enhance Gleadless Valley's green spaces and woodlands, whilst addressing the areas of underused green space. The strategy aims to increase the health and well-being benefits for the valley’s residents through engaging them in the care of the green spaces, supporting community food growing schemes, increasing the provision of formal sports and play facilities and improving accessibility to and through its green spaces and woodlands.
• Services and Facilities: Investment will be focused on creating a greater balance of provision throughout the Valley, promoting convenient and accessible community hubs. Ensuring thatcommunity assets are managed efficiently will ensure that more local people can benefit from them
• Employment and Skills: Gleadless Valley has been classed as one of the most deprived estates in the country and there is a clear evidence-based need to improve levels of employment and skills in the valley. To help achieve this vision the Council and local stakeholders are exploring ways to bring more employment and skills opportunities to local people, offering apprenticeships, work expereince and jobs fairs in Gleadless Valley and exploring the potential of a new workspace for local enterprise. 

Over the coming months, the Council will recruit a dedicated delivery team to deliver projects and work with the community to develop structures which will incorporate both the Council and local people to oversee the next phase of the masterplan.