Man of Steel takes giant step forward as planners back gateway sculpture idea

It will need foundations about 65ft deep, and will sit above the M1 motorway near Sheffield’s Meadowhall shopping centre on a former landfill site.

Although some of the funding for its creation has still to be found, yesterday creator Steve Mehdi said momentum was now building, with financial support coming from both businesses and individuals.

Mr Mehdi said he was delighted that Rotherham Council had backed the idea, which will see the creation of a massive version of a sculpture which he originally exhibited in Sheffield in 2008.

South Yorkshire’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at Catcliffe, between Sheffield and Rotherham is already involved and local firms are contributing too.

Mr Mehdi said: “The AMRC is currently producing a four metre high version of the sculpture, which we plan to exhibit at the Magna centre in Rotherham to spread the word.

“Sheffield Hallam University has done all the 3D scanning for the project so far and other South Yorkshire engineering firms are also lending their expertise.”

The exhibition will also tour schools and communities showing off engineering and science to try to inspire a new generation of young engineers.

The site for the sculpture is owned by FCC Environment and overlooks the site of the former Blackburn Meadows power station, where the so-called Tinsley Towers stood until their demolition exactly four years ago.

Before becoming a landfill it was an open-cast coal mine and Mr Mehdi said the Man of Steel would reflect Yorkshire’s industrial heritage while using cutting-edge techniques in its construction to demonstrate the region’s 21st century expertise.

He added: “Creating the larger version of the Man of Steel will involve a number of companies and a variety of specialisms.

“Fabricating the figure itself will require a the latest water-jet cutting tools to create a myriad of intricate panels that will be layered over a monocoque shell, later adding additional panels to create a muscular form.

“The column will be created with a steel frame and additional panels attached to give it the appearance of coal. An observation deck is envisaged in a second stage of development.”