Students showcase Attercliffe´s future role in Sheffield´s industrial heartland
Creative Town and Regional Planning students are celebrating one of Sheffield´s most important industrial gateways in an enthralling exhibition taking place at the city´s Winter Gardens tomorrow (Thursday 23 February, 2012).The exciting event aims to raise the profile of the Attercliffe centre and highlight the extensive opportunities for regeneration in the area.
Posters produced by talented students depict the historic role of Attercliffe in Sheffield´s industrial heartland, and the continuing role that the centre can play as a key gateway to the city.
Dr Ed Ferrari, Lecturer in Town and Regional Planning at the University of Sheffield, said: "Our students committed a lot of time to this exhibition, in most cases pushing them to develop skills in print layout and urban design that are beyond those normally required in their course.
"Their poster displays depict a summary of the main challenges facing Attercliffe and some suggestions about possible responses to those challenges. These range from the very mundane but important questions of managing traffic congestion, to more fundamental questions of Attercliffe's role and purpose in 21st-century Sheffield, and even whether a Guggenheim-style landmark building might be what's needed to kick start investor confidence in the area.
"The exhibition is important because it demonstrates how our students can apply creative thought and direct their energies towards real problems faced in the city, and not only theoretical problems in the classroom. It's the willing to engage creatively that's the point, even if some of the students' ideas may never be implemented. It starts a debate and keeps Attercliffe on the map."
Proposals put forward by students support the recommendations of Sheffield City Council's new Action Plan for Attercliffe, including enhanced public realm along Attercliffe Road, bringing vacant properties back into positive uses, improving green spaces, and addressing the high levels of heavy goods traffic.
Notes for Editors: Located in Sheffield´s industrial Lower Don Valley area, Attercliffe has a long-standing history of supporting local businesses and significant employment in factories in the area, as well as a growing residential population. The University of Sheffield´s distinguished Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing has part of its roots in Attercliffe thanks to Technicut marketing director Adrian Allen. He helped Professor Keith Ridgway develop the idea of an academic centre based on the partnership between applied research and supply chain companies who would develop skills important to major purchasing companies – an idea which is still at the heart of what is now the Advanced Manufacturing Institute.
The exhibition has been arranged by a partnership group including the Council, University of Sheffield and two local business-led associations - The Attercliffe Business Connection and Attercliffe Asian Business Connection.
Production costs have been funded by a grant from the East Community Assembly.
Visitors to the exhibition will be able to speak to University students and lecturers, business people from the Attercliffe area and Council officers to learn about the exciting vision for this important gateway area.
The Attercliffe Action Plan is a 10 year strategy which identifies a number of proposals designed to renew the environment, bring vacant plots back into use and make the centre an attractive place to stop and enjoy. By delivering these short, medium and long term projects, the aim is to enable the Attercliffe Centre to thrive in the future.
For more information about Town and Regional Planning at the University of Sheffield visit Town and Regional Planning
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