New development brings improvement works to STEP facility in Stocksbridge

New development brings improvement works to STEP facility in Stocksbridge

11 March 2014

A programme of improvements to the STEP Development Trust’s Community Enterprise Centre in Stocksbridge is nearing completion – thanks to the town’s new Fox Valley development.

The Fox Valley developers Dransfield Properties Ltd have undertaken works worth more than £20,000 on the building in exchange for a small piece of land at the side of the property which can now be used to widen the pedestrian footpath to the new development.

The agreement has created the opportunity for the STEP building to benefit from a number of improvements – including the installation of a new boiler, new windows, outside lighting and some further internal improvements.

STEP, the Stocksbridge Training and Enterprise Partnership, was formed in 1997 to help improve local educational and employment prospects.

Formed as a charitable trust the company runs and manages a number of facilities in the town including The Venue and Stocksbridge Children’s Centre as well as the STEP Business Centre in Deepcar and the Community Enterprise Centre.

Chair of the STEP Development Trust, Graham Silverwood, said: “We are delighted with the agreement that has been reached and with the way that everything has been carried out by Dransfield Properties. 

"This has enabled us to undertake a number of significant improvements to the building which really needed doing and the completed work is looking great.”

The agreement means that Dransfield Properties can widen and upgrade the existing footpath at the side of the STEP building, creating a good pedestrian link through from Manchester Road and encouraging linked trips in the town.

Amanda Holmes, from Dransfield Properties said: “It’s lovely to see that the improvement works at the STEP building are almost completed now and great that the facility has been able to benefit from the wider development in this way.

"We’d like to thank Graham and everyone on the team at STEP for working with us and helping us to provide good pedestrian links between Manchester Road and the new development.”

Work started on the major £42 million mixed use scheme three weeks ago and the Fox Valley development is due to be completed early in 2016.  Once completed it will create up to 900 new jobs and will deliver:

• A new link road to the A616 Sheffield to Manchester Road
• New high spec office space
• A new 635 space car park
• Retail, restaurant and café units anchored by a 63,000 sq. ft. Tesco store
• High quality public realm area and landscaping as well as strong pedestrian links with Manchester Rd
• A new housing development neighbouring the main retail and commercial development
Dransfield Properties has received an investment of £8,111,040 from the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme 2007- 2013, which is managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government to bring forward the Fox Valley project.

Picture shows
Amanda Holmes from Dransfield Properties with Graham Silverwood, Chair of the STEP Development Trust at the Community Enterprise Centre in Stocksbridge.

For further information, contact:

Public Relations Department, Dransfield Properties Ltd
Tel: 01226 360644
Email: pr@dransfield.co.uk