Plans for a brand new all wheels park in Stocksbridge have been given the go ahead – with work due to start on the new development in April.
The planning application for the new facility at Oxley Park has been approved by Sheffield City Council. It means that work can now get underway on the final part of the Stocksbridge Town Deal funded project to invest in improvements at the park.
The all wheels park has been designed in consultation with the Friends of Oxley Park to be suitable for bikes and scooters as well as for skateboarding, wheelchair motocross (WCMX) and roller booters.
The design incorporates smaller features for novice riders to learn to ride as well as more challenging areas for experienced riders.
The current skatepark’s large structures, which are currently underused, will be removed and replaced with sustainable construction methods using concrete coloured in grey and green. The footprint has been reduced by more than half with a modern and low profile design.
Landscaped areas with trees and wildflowers will be included - enhancing biodiversity and creating an attractive area for local residents and park users.
Sheffield City Council’s Parks and Countryside team have worked closely with the Friends of Oxley Park as well as the contractors Canvas Spaces to create a facility which fits in with the area as well as catering for all skill levels.
The all wheels park is part of the £690,000 investment at Oxley Park through the Stocksbridge Town Deal. Other improvements include new footpaths and landscaping as well as new Electric Vehicle chargers at Stocksbridge Community Leisure Centre.
Cllr Julie Grocutt, Town Deal Board Champion for the Oxley Park Improvement Project, said: “We are really pleased that the plans for the new all wheels park have now been approved – it’s a great milestone to reach in a project which is going to make such a difference to our local park here in Stocksbridge.
“The designs have been a real collaboration of ideas, and we can’t wait to see people of all ages and abilities enjoying this brand new facility in the park later in the year.”
Victoria Faulkner, from the Friends of Oxley Park said: “It is fantastic to have the opportunity to make these brilliant improvements to our park. The new all wheels park is going to be such a great addition to the facilities we have here. We have all worked together to design an all wheels park that has something for everyone.
“Now the plans have been approved we want to look at how we can put coaching and engagement sessions in place – we really want this to be a great place for our community to enjoy and learn new skills.”
The Town Deal Accelerated Funding Programme delivered an earlier project in the park to create a new children’s play area which opened in August 2021.
This latest phase of investment is funded through the Stocksbridge Town Deal, and includes some local fundraising by the Friends of Oxley Park for the new all wheels park.
The Stocksbridge Town Deal is also delivering a major regeneration of the town centre, including Stocksbridge 519 (a new Library and Community Hub), placemaking improvements and investment in upgraded shop fronts.
To keep up to date with news about the Stocksbridge Town Deal projects visit www.welcometostocksbridge.co.uk
About Town Deals: The Town Deals programme aims to regenerate towns and deliver long-term economic and productivity growth. This is through investments in urban regeneration, digital and physical connectivity, skills, heritage, and enterprise infrastructure. As of July 2021, DLUHC have offered Town Deals to all 101 places that submitted proposals, committing over £2.35bn of investment across around 700 projects nationwide.
About the Stocksbridge Town Deal: A Town Investment Plan for Stocksbridge was submitted to the Government in January 2021. The chosen projects were selected by the board guided by the key priorities and potential outputs set by the funding guidelines along with the communities’ priorities and concerns highlighted through local consultation.