Location and Venue

The city of Sheffield, founded on the production of steel, has been changing rapidly, with much to interest researchers concerned about how cities manage major transitions towards a different economy and society. The city centre in particular has seen much redevelopment in the past 15 years, from the revitalisation of historic quarters to new retail and public spaces, including the Winter Garden and Millennium Galleries. Sheffield is also fringed by the Peak District National Park, with its many attractive green spaces.

The conference will take place in the University of Sheffield with all sessions on its city centre campus. There will also be plentiful opportunities to explore the city, with social events taking in some of Sheffield’s landmark buildings and study tours exploring key aspects of its urban development. These will give you an insight into some of the projects, schemes, and initiatives that have underpinned Sheffield’s changing fortunes, and help to think through alternative approaches to planning.

The main conference venue will be the Arts Tower area of the Univeristy of Sheffield Campus (E2 on the campus map). The Arts Tower is a Grade II listed building belonging to the University of Sheffield which opened in 1966. English Heritage has called it "the most elegant university tower block in Britain of its period". At 78m (255 feet) tall, it is the second tallest building in the city, after the 101m St Paul's Tower on Arundel Gate. The Arts Tower is home to the largest surviving paternoster in the UK and is also the tallest University building in the UK.