Diggers onsite as work begins to transform Cannon Brewery

Big things are brewing in Sheffield as enabling works kick off at the historic Cannon Brewery site, marking the start of a major regeneration project set to transform the long-abandoned landmark into a vibrant new neighbourhood.

Capital&Centric, the social impact developers behind the plans, are now on site preparing the grounds for construction to start in early 2026. The 3.5-acre site, just north of the city centre, is being readied for 550 design-led homes, 20,000 sq ft of commercial space and a lush new public square packed with greenery and space to hang out.

Originally dating back to the 1800s, Cannon Brewery has a rich industrial past and was once one of Sheffield’s biggest employers, producing beer that was shipped across the country. While time and neglect have taken their toll, Capital&Centric are determined to keep that history alive.

Some of the later warehouse additions will be demolished, but iconic gems like the water tower and brew house will be carefully restored, stitched into the new community to celebrate the site's heritage.

The Cannon Brewery site project is part-funded by £11.67million from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's (SYMCA) Brownfield Housing Fund.

John Moffat, Joint Managing Director at Capital&Centric, said:

“Cannon Brewery is a sleeping giant that had been left to rot for years, but it’s got incredible bones and bags of potential. We won’t be flattening the past, instead we’re preserving the characterful bits and building a proper community around them. Getting enabling works underway is a massive milestone and sets us up to get cracking with construction early next year.”

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said:

“Our homes are our foundation: the bricks and mortar giving us security and bringing families and communities together. We’re seeing the South Yorkshire we want to build taking shape with more decent homes offering a path to the cleaner, greener, healthier, wealthier and happier South Yorkshire we all want to live in.  

“I’m committed to delivering better homes in partnership with brilliant developers like Capital&Centric - attracting investment, creating space for new businesses, and strengthening our well-earned reputation as a brilliant place to live.”

“The Cannon Brewery site is a fantastic example of how we can bring brownfield land back to life; creating vibrant places in South Yorkshire where people want to live, work and spend time.”

Meanwhile, Club de Padel is on track to open onsite in the coming weeks, bringing padel courts and a buzzing new social scene to the area well before the homes are built.

The transformation of Cannon Brewery is the next step in Capital&Centric’s plans for Sheffield, following the restoration of Eyewitness, a Grade II listed cutlery works in the Devonshire Quarter, into a buzzing community of homes available to rent now.