Pound's Park Sheffield: Council chiefs face growing calls to expand popular site as builder moves out

Council chiefs are facing growing calls to expand a popular Sheffield city centre park as the plot next door comes free.

Users of Pound’s Park on Wellington Street are in favour of it expanding on to the Henry Boot builder’s yard next door. The company has removed hoardings and appears to be moving off the site after completing a string of jobs for the authority’s Heart of the City II regeneration scheme.

Pound’s Park opened to acclaim last summer but its popularity has highlighted its small size. The park features play equipment for children and benches but little green space.

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The council had hoped to sell the plot adjacent to a developer but took it off the market after almost two years.

Now, the removal of hoardings has shown how big the park could be. Extra green space would give customers from the neighbouring Cambridge Street Collective food hall somewhere to sit, could provide room to exercise dogs and allow users to find a quiet spot away from playing children, people have suggested.

On X, formerly Twitter, prominent Sheffield architect Matt Bowker, said: “Appreciate the challenges around financing and leaving money on the table by relinquishing a prime development plot, but l’d like to see the park extended onto that plot. I think it would be of greater collective value to the city than just another building.”

Former BBC journalist and media guru Andy Kershaw said: “Yes green space is very important and helpful to people’s mental health and well being, surely!”

Rotherham Advertiser journalist, Paul Whitehouse, said: “One thing Sheffield does very well is public realm stuff.

“Look at how Angel Street/West Bar and beyond have been improved. I'm thinking in jigsaw puzzle terms, another piece that might link up to Leah's Yard, the John Lewis building, etc? Sounds like a good plan, to me…”

Scott Kelly reckoned a bigger park could boost business: “Yes, an absolute must. My kids love it and it’s one of the reasons we go into Sheffield town centre as a family. We also use restaurants and amenities whilst there.”

Another X user added: “Yeah, Pound’s Park has been a resounding success. Let's make it our central park.”

Sheffield City Council was contacted for comment. Last month it said it was “exploring options” for the land.