Businesses in Sheffield 'sick' of construction dirt & noise pollution on Fargate
Regeneration works in the area have been ongoing for more than a year now
Businesses in a part of Sheffield city centre admit they're 'sick' of having to 'clean dust off their shop windows' - due to ongoing regeneration works on Fargate.
The revamp started in 2023 & was due to be completed later this year - but 'minor delays' look set to push things back until early 2025.
It's led to a lot of congestion for people walking up & down the area - Saf Yousaf runs a phone shop on Fargate.
He's concerned by the levels of both noise & construction dirt pollution in the area:
"I'm not sure if the footfall has actually gone down or not, but it is causing issues for people who use the area.
"Different areas keep getting closed down, so it's an inconvenience for a lot of people.
"We have to clean dust off our windows more, while some customers who come into our shop can't hear themselves think from the noise outside.
"I hope they can speed the works up and do it in a quieter way.
"If the Council could do a bit more of the work at night, that would probably be better too?
"We've been waiting a long time for these projects to go ahead, so the Council are getting things done at least.
"It should be a progressive development."
Sheffield City Council provided us with this response:
Councillor Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said: “We have seen tremendous change in Sheffield in the last few months with many incredibly businesses and spaces opening up. This week we have also announced, along with Thornbridge and Co, The Fargate pub, with more than £1m being invested in that project based in the old Yorkshire Bank building at the top of Fargate.
“The transformation work on Fargate is continuing with the public realm element due to be substantially completed before Christmas this year and the whole project expected to be complete by February 2025.
“I can understand people’s views on Fargate but projects like this take time and the end result will be worth the wait when the work has been completed."