M&S and Aldi lined up for £35m Sheffield retail park

Developer St James Securities has bought the former site of Norton College and Graves swimming pool, and demolition of the old buildings is underway.

Planning permission for the retail park off Bochum Parkway, which will also include Next and TK Maxx, was granted in August last year.

Known as St James Retail Park, it is due to open in spring 2018, creating 250 jobs with an extra 124 in construction work.

The sale was handled by SMC Chartered Surveyors, which marketed the site on behalf of the joint owners, Sheffield College and Sheffield Council.

Given the prominent frontage to Bochum Parkway, there was a high level of interest from developers for a variety of uses. But the firm said retail would generate the best outcome for the landowners.

SMC managing director Mike Hull said: "We are extremely pleased with the outcome, which has provided a solution for a tired old site that will now meet a demand for retail on the south side of Sheffield.

"The receipts from the sale have already been invested in improved educational and leisure facilities, so all round it is a win-win result."

Sheffield College decided to invest in new multi-million pound facilities at its Hillsborough and Olive Grove campuses so staff and students across the college benefited from consistently high quality teaching and learning facilities. The college’s two other campuses, City and Peaks, are also modern sites, making the Norton building surplus to requirements.

The Sheffield Council-owned pool became surplus once the improved and expanded Graves Leisure Centre opened in September.

Some residents raised concerns about extra traffic on the already-busy Meadowhead roundabout.

Alterations to Bochum Parkway, which joins Meadowhead roundabout, are included in the plans in an attempt to ease any extra traffic.

Today’s top stories:

Sheffield teacher sent 'inappropriate' texts to former student

Boy, eight, taken to hospital after collision in Sheffield

Innocent Sheffield dad wrongly branded a paedophile due to police 'typing error'

INQUEST: Sheffield woman found dead after taking mixture of cocaine and heroin to relieve pain

Court orders Sheffield city centre takeaway to close for 28 days over serious ASB reports

Police left stunned after man is seen juggling in the middle of busy Sheffield street

ON THIS DAY: 1994: Supertram launches in Sheffield - see what it looked like 23 years ago - VIDEO AND PICTURES

Sheffield Wednesday: Carvalhal expecting FOUR key men to return for Barnsley clash after international break

Sheffield United: Blades show their fighting spirit as Chris Wilder keeps it simple

Jamie Vardy reveals death threats in wake of Claudio Ranieri's sacking