Sheffield Container Park Fargate: Plans for Monday opening scrapped due to missing information

Sheffield Council has today announced that the opening of the scheme, which sees shipping containers used to create a food and retail area at the top of what has traditionally been one of Sheffield’s busiest shopping areas, has had to be delayed because paperwork is not yet in place.

Richard Eyre, director of streetscene and regulations at the council, has issued a statement confirming that the Fargate containers will not be opening on Monday, October 17, as expected.

He said: “I’m extremely disappointed to announce the container park on Fargate will not be opening on Monday as hoped. Unfortunately, our building control teams are awaiting technical information from the operator. Until the outstanding information is received the container park cannot open. This information is national legislation needed for any building and the operator is legally required to provide it before the attraction can be opened to the public.

"I know many people have been looking forward to heading down, trying out the food and browsing the independent shops. We are equally as disappointed as many others will be. The structure is built and ready to go and we are really looking forward to welcoming people through the doors. There are some fantastic local independent traders lined up to showcase their businesses and I am certain once open the container park will be one of Sheffield’s top spots.”

MORE: Sheffield Council’s Container Park with big screen and shops lands on Fargate

The council says all the businesses affected have been informed about the delay.

Sheffield City Council says it doing all it can to help the operator get ready to open the doors and ‘showcase some of the amazing local independent traders’ inside. Once the documents are received an opening date will be agreed, and officials say an update will be provided as soon as possible.

Sheffield residents views on the scheme have been mixed. Descriptions have varied from ‘an eyesore’ to ‘looking great’.

Martin McGrail, boss of Steelyard Kelham, which has supplied the shipping containers used in the development on Fargate, issued a plea for a ‘a new, independent start-up business’ this week after one of the units became availble again at the last moment.