While there has long been anecdotal evidence that the massive out-of-town Meadowhall shopping centre, which opened in 1990, was attracting investment away from Sheffield city centre, the Sheffield City Centre Masterplan, commissioned by the city council in 2000, confirmed this, with its measurements of economic, land-use and property-market factors highlighting a massive shortfall of retail space in the city. The report identified the wedge-shaped zone between the Barker's Pool plaza and Pinstone Street as a focus for retail regeneration, and an invitation for expressions of interest was proffered by the council in 2001 for the Sevenstone retail quarter. The development, which will complete in two phases, on 2011 and 2013, will be right at the centre of the city, an uncommon location for such a large scheme, but one which is increasing in popularity (see feature on Victoria Square, in the heart of Belfast, on pages 40-45). Developer Hammerson, with architect BDP, submitted a proposal seeking to integrate the site with the surrounding streets. This involved the wholesale demolition of existing buildings on the site, which comprised small-scale retail units, a John Lewis store, a car park and numerous nondescript office buildings.
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