A significant milestone has been reached in the development of the Stocksbridge Hub 519 with a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction work on the building.
Representatives of the Stocksbridge Towns Fund board and Sheffield City Council were in attendance alongside staff from construction contractors R G Carter to formally break ground on the development following the demolition of the old Stocksbridge Library.
The Stocksbridge Hub 519 will be home to a modern library and state of the art office spaces for businesses, training and the community.
The town’s library service will also be in Hub 519 once it is completed, moving from the current temporary library in the IKON Church building across from the site.
Sitting between Manchester Road and Button Row, near to the junction of Manchester Road and Johnson Street, the Hub 519 is one of the major projects being overseen by the Stocksbridge Towns Fund.
Ian Sanderson, Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board member with responsibility for the Stocksbridge Hub 519 project, said: “It’s great to see the progress that has already been made on site following the demolition of the old library and today’s ground breaking ceremony.
“The Stocksbridge Hub 519 will be a vital addition to the town. It will provide a welcoming space where people from Stocksbridge and the surrounding areas will be able to come together to work, socialise, access services and connect with their community.
“Once complete, the hub will combine with our other schemes on Manchester Road, including the shop front improvement project, to generate a vibrant shopping and leisure area for residents and visitors alike.
“I look forward to seeing the building take shape as the project continues to move forward and being able to share further major milestones with our local community.”
Darren Chiumento, Project Manager for the Stocksbridge Hub 519 site at R G Carter, said: “R G Carter are delighted to mark this important milestone alongside Sheffield City Council and the Stocksbridge Town Board as we begin construction of the new Community Hub and Library, a key element of the Manchester Road transformation.
“Today’s groundbreaking is a fantastic way to celebrate the progress made to date and to thank everyone who has helped bring the project to this stage. We look forward to seeing the building take shape and playing our part in creating an inspiring new space for the residents of Stocksbridge and the wider community.”
Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board member and Chair of Stocksbridge Community Leisure Centre and STEP Development Trust Graham Silverwood has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year’s Honours list.
The honour recognises Graham’s services to the community in Stocksbridge after almost 30 years of involvement in local organisations.
This includes previous work with Deepcar Village Hall and Stocksbridge Futures Partnership alongside his ongoing work with the Venue, Stocksbridge Leisure Centre and the Towns Fund Board.
Graham is currently the board representative for the Stocksbridge Sports Hub Project, which includes the cricket pavilion project and the Bracken Moor 3G pitch.
Commenting on the honour, Graham said: “I was very surprised but honoured to receive the award and feel that it is also partly recognition of the organisations I am part of.
“I have received so many very kind and generous messages since the news broke it has been quite humbling.
“I look forward to receiving my honour later this year.”
Co-Chair of the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board Marie Tidball MP said:
“I am absolutely thrilled Graham has been named in the King’s New Year’s Honours list, receiving the British Empire Medal, for his tireless work serving our community.
“He has been instrumental in the success of community charities and projects for Stocksbridge for decades and continues to serve the town through his work with the Towns Fund Board, the Venue and the Community Leisure Centre.
“I had the pleasure of working closely with him on our recent 7km swim fundraiser to raise money for an accessible changing room at the Leisure Centre. He’s a gentle giant who puts local people first and I am delighted to see his hard work recognised. I look forward to continuing to work with him to bring real change to Stocksbridge through the Towns Fund Board’s projects.”
Stocksbridge’s high street is set for a major facelift as plans to renovate the Manchester Road shopping precinct have been granted planning permission.
The project will transform 15 shop fronts close to the former Stocksbridge Community Library site, which is currently being cleared to make way for the new Stocksbridge Hub 519 development. The aim is to create a more attractive, cohesive look that reflects the historic character of the area while enhancing the overall shopping experience.
Changes to the shop fronts will include:
The project has been a key priority for the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board since local consultations in 2020 highlighted the need to upgrade the precinct. While the designs have evolved since the original concept design release in 2023 and further following feedback from businesses, the focus remains on the shop fronts. Changes to the first floor will be minimal to ensure funding delivers maximum impact for the whole community.
The new external elements will be hardwood and treated for longevity, requiring only repainting every five to eight years. Shop owners will maintain their own frontages, as they do now, without additional upkeep costs.
John Crawshaw, one of the Stocksbridge Towns Funds Board’s representatives on the Manchester Road Shop Fronts Project, said:
“This area of Stocksbridge was highlighted for improvements during the public consultations that were conducted throughout the town by the board and council officers, so we are delighted that planning consent has been granted.
“We know that those who own and run premises in the shopping precinct have been waiting patiently for this project to move forward.
“We thank them for their patience, and we encourage as many units as possible to take advantage of this investment. The more shops that participate with the renovations will enhance the overall appearance so we can all really see the effect of the changes.
“With planning permission agreed, we can really push on with renovating this area and making it a wonderful shopping destination right in the heart of the town.”
Fellow project board representative Ian Sanderson added: “The shopfront scheme is all part of the plan to create a vibrant, higher footfall high street, linking together the Co-Op, and the new Hub 519 building down to Lidl and Fox Valley.
“Smarter, well-presented shops are more appealing to customers and help the tenants trade better, which in turn ensures the Landlords are happy which can lead to more investment. It kickstarts a positive cycle which is good for jobs and the local population in general”
Work will proceed in 2026, once agreements are in place with individual shop owners.
For more details and updates, visit the Stocksbridge Towns Fund website.