MEMBERS of the Green Party in Sheffield have called for a "complete rethink" of Sheffield's new retail quarter after developers revealed they were postponing the start of the project.
Hammerson said that construction would not start on the project – officially called Sevenstone – until next summer. Work was originally scheduled to begin after Christmas this year.
A spokesman insisted that the delay has nothing to do with worsen
ing economic climate and said it was to do with delays surrounding compulsory purchase orders.
But Jillian Creasy, who represents the Sheffield Central ward on the city council said the firm was "hedging its bets" and buying time to gauge the extent of the credit crunch.
Coun Creasy said: "We are not surprised at the news that Hammersons wishes to delay the start of this giant shopping centre. We are facing a triple crunch of credit-fuelled financial crisis, accelerating climate change and soaring energy prices.
"The best thing that could happen is for a complete rethink of the New Retail Quarter project and the City Centre Masterplan. We believe new developments should be future-proof.
"The global economy is increasingly volatile, so new buildings should be capable of accommodating locally-owned businesses and shops, not designed purely for chain stores.
"There should be affordable housing, community facilities and new green spaces, not just one and two-bed luxury apartments overlooking shopping malls.
"We need to start again with a people-centred, not profit-centred planning process which will come up with solutions fit for the very different challenges of the 21st century."
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