VIDEO: Massive 200ft carousel ride to be installed in Sheffield city centre next month

The 220ft (67m) Star Flyer is due to be temporarily installed on Fargate from March 13 to June 5 after Sheffield Council officers recommended planning permission is granted – partly on the grounds the attraction should increase the number of people visiting the city centre.

Councillors are expected to rubber-stamp temporary permission at a meeting on Tuesday on condition the ride has to be removed by the end of June.

It is expected it will be located at the southern end of Fargate, close to the junction of Barker’s Pool and Surrey Street.

During the three months the ride will be in operation, it will be open seven days a week between 10am and 11pm.

Star Flyer was first set up in Liverpool in 2010 and has since been an attraction in London and Manchester.

It is more than twice the size than a similar 100ft carousel ride that was set up in Leeds last winter.

An application on behalf of ride owners Mellor Group said: “The Star Flyer will encourage visitors to Sheffield city centre and increase the economic vibrancy of the area.”

The council’s report said: “The site has accommodated a giant observation wheel in the past and as such the principle of locating a similar large-scale visitor attraction is considered acceptable in this location.

“The Star Flyer has been located in several other cities worldwide and locations nationally including London and Manchester.

“The presence of this attraction will help to encourage visitors to the city centre, contributing to its vitality and viability.

“It is considered that the Star Flyer will attract visitors and increase footfall in the city centre benefitting established retail and commercial uses by providing an attraction that will allow Sheffield to rival other regional shopping destinations.

“Whilst the Star Flyer will certainly affect the appearance of the conservation area and the setting of the nearby listed buildings for a temporary period, it will have no long-term impact and as such is not considered to be contrary to the above policies.

“The economic benefits of the scheme will far outweigh the short-­term visual harm caused.”

The ride has seats for 24 people, with trips lasting around four minutes.

It will be stand taller than the 61m Town Hall and the 60m spire of the Cathedral Church of St Marie but will not be the tallest structure in the city centre.

That honour belongs to St Paul’s Tower, which at 101m is Sheffield’s tallest building.