Transforming Castlegate: new park opening 2026

Castlegate is where Sheffield's history begins. It is where Rivers Sheaf and Don meet at the Sheaf Field. It is also the site of the medieval Sheffield Castle, where Mary Queen of Scots was once imprisoned.

Despite serious wartime bomb damage, the area retains significant historic importance. It features:

• the city's first bridge crossing at Lady’s Bridge
• the first purpose-built Old Town Hall and Courts
• the remains of the Norman castle, buried in the foundations of the former Castle Market site

Castlegate’s role

Whilst the centre of retail and local government gradually shifted away during the 20th century, Castlegate continues to perform an important, if changing, role in the city centre. This includes several retailers, significant office space, the largest concentration of city centre hotels, Snig Hill police station, and the Magistrates Courts.

It is soon to be home to Sheffield city centre’s newest public park.

The regeneration of the Sheffield Castle site

With the support of government funding, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), and the Environment Agency, we are leading the transformation of the castle site.

As well as introducing unique green space to the middle of Castlegate, the new park will also feature castle remains, which are being exposed for the first time.

The Sheaf Fields part of the park will overlook the River Sheaf, which is being opened up for the first time since 1912. There will also be a 500+ capacity events space (reminiscent of the 'bowling green' that occupied the site in the 1700s) to continue Castlegate's musical contribution to the city.

The project is being supported by the Castlegate Partnership member organisations.

For the latest news and information on the progress of the park, go to Welcome to Sheffield's Castlegate page.

You can also sign up to our newsletter, Castlegate News, where we provide bi-monthly updates on the progress of the park.

Key dates

There are several keys dates in Castlegate's transformation:

• October 2021 – government funding bid approved
• November 2021 to November 2022 – public consultation programme and co-production (preparation of the planning application submission)
• May 2023 – planning consent obtained for the castle site works. Scheme design advances (procurement process started)
• October 2023 – appointment of contractor Keltbray to deliver stage 1 enabling works
• January 2024 – Keltbray start on site
• March to May 2024 – Wessex Archaeology conduct most extensive excavation of Sheffield Castle ever undertaken
• April 2024 – SYMCA’s OBC approved for additional funding
• May 2024 – Keltbray appointed for Stage 2 main works
• Spring 2026 – anticipated completion of the new park

Castlegate government funding

Sheffield City Council was successful in the bid for government funding in late 2021. This bid brought together three projects that responded directly to the call to ‘prioritise investment that not only brings economic benefits but also helps bind communities together’.

It welcomes visitors, residents, and investors into a previously neglected part of Sheffield’s heritage, using public realm interventions to create a new sense of place. It also links historic sites with revitalised cultural institutions that will nurture the city’s talent for generations to come.

The three projects included are:

• The castle site (previously the Castle Market area of the city)
• Park Hill Art Space
• Harmony Works

Consultation on the Castle Site Levelling Up Fund project

To inform the development of the project, a series of consultations have been commissioned by Sheffield City Council starting in November 2021 which culminated in a Public Engagement Programme on the Proposed concept design in November 2022.

All appendices listed on the summary report are available upon request from lucia.lorente@sheffield.gov.uk.

Planning applications

If you wish to view the status of the planning application, you can visit the application portal and enter this reference number:

• 23/00493/OUT