New Engineering Building will open door to growth and investment

The decision to approve the University of Sheffield's planning application for an £81 million state of the art New Engineering Building on the Jessop East site will open the door to growth and investment, making a huge contribution to the Sheffield and regional economy. That was the message from the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, Professor Keith Burnett, on hearing that the planning application for the development had been successful. The new development will create around 500 jobs during the construction phase alone and is predicted to bring £44.5 million into the local economy during the construction phase and first year of operation, with an ongoing annual contribution to Sheffield's economy of £20.6 million. Burnett praised the City Council's planning officers for their efforts in working with the University team to shape the plans for the building, which is the centrepiece of the University's development plans over the next decade, and thanked members of the City Council for their support for this vital new building. "We recognise that we have been given a wonderful opportunity to create a fitting legacy for the future, an opportunity we take very seriously indeed. We are committed to investing in a high quality, stunning building which will not only be the centrepiece for the Faculty of Engineering's continued success, but will also be a source of enormous pride for the city.