FOCUS ON: Sheffield
Sheffield, the one-time industrial powerhouse of the North, has kept that character into the 21st Century.
But the rugged Northern city isn’t trapped by its factories. In just twenty minutes, you can travel from its modern metropolitan centre to the rural countryside. And the city a third of which actually lies within the Peak District national park, has more than 250 parks, woodlands and gardens.
Property and renting
City living conjures images of flats and apartment complexes. And while Sheffield does have plenty of that to offer, it also caters to those craving a suburban lifestyle but still working in the city centre.
From students to executives, the diverse range of properties, neighbourhoods, industries and residents make the Steel City a smelting pot of character and culture.
Like most cities, the closer you get to Sheffield’s heart, the higher the rent prices rise.
Looking central, near to the Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam university campuses or hospitals, rent prices can be around £800. A two bedroom furnished flat is currently renting for £825 per month.
But further out, in the S11 region, a three bedroomed, detached terrace property is renting for between £425-450.
As you approach Chesterfield, prices then begin to fluctuate. A two bedroom flat could be £550 per month but a three bedroom home could be £750 per month.
Properties near to the Sheffield Parkway offer young families the chance to live outside the main furore of city life but the benefits of a convenient location.
The range of prices mean Sheffield tenants can be anything from students, post-grads, young professionals to experienced executives or public sector workers.
It also means properties tend to go fast, especially those near to one of the city’s plentiful tram stops. The tram network benefits those looking to get around the city without a vehicle and landlords too, with properties close to a tram stop being in particular demand.
Benefits to owning rental property in Sheffield
What are the benefits to a landlord? As a major UK city, Sheffield attracts plenty of business. And that means the turnover of tenants, when they do decide to leave, is remarkably quick. Often, there is at most a week’s gap between tenancies. A climbing population of 575,000+ fills the third largest English district.
Culture and nightlife
Culturally, Sheffield can claim responsibility for some of the UK’s most iconic bands: Def Leppard, The Human League, Pulp and most recently The Arctic Monkeys all call Sheffield home.
Venues such as the nearby Fly DSA Arena see some of the world’s biggest acts make a stop. And it has a thriving night life, with West Street, Leopold Square and more offering bars, restaurants and nightclubs to keep anyone entertained. Not to mention the arts hub of the Sheffield Lyceum and Crucible Theatres keeping culture alive in the city centre.
Shopping and retail
From Sheffield-made wares produced by local makers and vintage treasures to designer boutiques, a quick trip out of the city centre and you'll find an eclectic mix of shops, bars and restaurants in distinctive areas, all of them worth spending time browsing around.
Meadowhall is Sheffield’s huge indoor shopping centre and the largest in Yorkshire, with almost any major retailer you can think of under one roof.
For more information, visit http://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/visit/things-to-see-and-do/shopping
Sports
The world’s oldest football club, Sheffield F.C, and the two professional clubs Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United inspire fierce loyalty in residents. The World Snooker Championship also bases itself in Sheffield.
Sheffield University
A world top 100 university, top five in the UK for best overall student experience and top UK Students' Union for the tenth consecutive year, Sheffield University is one of the most sought after in the UK. A multi-campus university predominantly over two campus areas: the Western Bank and the St George's, Sheffield Univsersity boasts 20,005 undergraduate and 8,710 postgraduate students in 2016/17 alone.
The University was established in 1897 while the University of Sheffield Students' Union was founded in 1906 and has nearly three hundred student societies and nearly fifty sports teams. The Union building contains society and union workplaces and coffee shops, restaurants, shops, and the student run cinema Film Unit.
The University campus is on the western edge of the city centre and is easy to get to by car, bus and tram.
Architecture and current/future developments
Sheffield boasts some of the most stunning - and biggest - buildings in Europe. Buildings and structures in Sheffield have been constructed over a time-span ranging from the 13th century to the present day. There are roughly 1,000 listed buildings in Sheffield; of these, only 5 are Grade I listed, while 42 are Grade II* listed, the rest being Grade II listed. The buildings vary from a listed facade to the largest listedbuilding in Europe, Park Hill.
The £130 million 'Heart of the City' scheme is centred on the location of the former town hall extension. Completed in 2016, this includes a hotel, offices, the Winter Gardens, Millennium Galleries, and Millennium Square.
Other schemes currently under way include the New Retail Quarter (£600 million) and West Bar Scheme (£315 million) which was recently renamed as the Sevenstone Project.
More information on buildings/working lcoations within the city centre can be found at - http://www.wow247.co.uk/2015/07/31/most-iconic-buildings-sheffield/
Commuting in and out of the city
Sheffield's central location means that it is within easy reach of many parts of the UK. There is easy motorway access to Leeds and even Manchester over the Pennines. The Parkway proves incredibly convenient for access to both north and southbound of the M1 with handy back roads taking you to other nearby cities and towns.
For those without access to a car, the city is well served by national road and rail networks and has excellent local transport. With 48 stops (most on-street), the Sheffield Supertram provides easy travel means to most locations within Sheffield.
The train station, ideally placed within the city centre, links to various destinations - including those nearby (Barnsley, Rotherham, Leeds etc.), trains are available to much further afield stops such as Scarborough, Liverpool and London.
Local council: Sheffield City Council / www.sheffield.gov.uk
Sources:
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/visitors