Community Spaces & Infrastructure

Introduction

Community infrastructure — including libraries, leisure centres, parks, and green spaces — plays a vital role in public health, social cohesion, and wellbeing. In Sheffield, a city known for its abundant green space and post-industrial transformation, these assets are both a strength and a challenge. While libraries and public buildings provide essential services, they are often underfunded and underused, especially in more deprived neighbourhoods. At the same time, Sheffield’s extensive natural landscape requires careful management to be truly inclusive and accessible to all.

This brief explores the challenges and opportunities around community infrastructure, with a focus on how engineering, architecture, and inclusive design can help create spaces that are flexible, multi-use, and responsive to community needs.

18: Libraries and Leisure Centres: Changing Roles

Libraries and leisure centres have historically been cornerstones of local communities — spaces for learning, health, connection, and culture. However, in recent years, austerity measures have placed many of these services under threat. Between 2010 and 2020, the UK saw the closure of nearly 800 libraries, with local councils forced to make difficult decisions about funding priorities [1].

Sheffield has responded with innovative models such as co-managed libraries, where volunteers and local organisations work with the council to keep services running. These spaces have evolved beyond their traditional roles, now offering access to:

Free Wi-Fi and digital support
Book lending and literacy programmes
Warm, safe places during winter
Advice sessions, workshops, and community events

Student challenge: Can libraries and leisure centres be redesigned to serve different community needs throughout the day, like hosting a toddler group in the morning and a digital skills class in the evening? Could flexible layouts and simple tech upgrades help them do more for local people?

19: Warm Spaces and Crisis Resilience

With energy costs soaring and many households in fuel poverty, the concept of “warm spaces” has emerged as a vital public service. These are public buildings — such as churches, libraries, or community centres — that open their doors in colder months to offer free, heated, safe spaces.

The low-income areas in Sheffield could particularly benefit from more structured, long-term warm space provision. However, this requires planning, staffing, energy management, and accessibility — and ideally, integration with other services such as health outreach or digital support.

Student challenge: Can community buildings be equipped with sensors or smart systems to monitor temperature, occupancy, and energy use in real-time? Could renewable heating systems — like ground-source heat pumps — make warm spaces more sustainable and cost-effective?

20: Digital Access and Smart Hubs

Digital exclusion remains a significant barrier in Sheffield. Many residents lack basic digital skills, with the issue more pronounced among older adults, disabled residents, and those in social housing.

Libraries and community centres offer a perfect platform for bridging the digital divide, especially when enhanced with appropriate technology and trained staff. These hubs could offer:

Computers and Wi-Fi
Device lending schemes
Digital health check-in services (e.g. NHS apps, GP registration)
Access to online council and social care systems

Student challenge: Could we design small digital pods that fit into quiet corners of community spaces, where people can go online or get help using technology? Could a mobile tech van visit neighbourhoods that do not have a community centre?

21: Green Spaces: A Mixed Blessing

Sheffield is often called "the greenest city in the UK," with over 60% of its land area designated as green space or woodland. The city is home to more than 250 parks, including national trails, local nature reserves, and informal open land.

While this is a huge asset, it also presents complex challenges:

Some spaces are underused, poorly maintained, or feel unsafe
Others suffer from overuse, especially during good weather
Management requires balancing biodiversity, play, safety, and access
Steep hills and uneven paths make access difficult for older people or those with disabilities

Sheffield City Council's Green and Open Space Strategy (2019) outlines goals to protect and enhance green spaces and woodlands, deliver low-maintenance, sustainable improvements, engage local people in design and stewardship, and increase access and inclusivity for all ages and abilities.

Student challenge: Can we rethink underused green spaces by involving residents in co-design? Could modular play areas, sensory gardens, or open-air classrooms make parks more engaging year-round? How can we improve paths and seating to make green space accessible to everyone?

22: Reducing Heat Stress in Urban Neighbourhoods

As climate change drives hotter, drier summers, Sheffield is increasingly vulnerable to urban heat stress, especially in densely built areas like the city centre, Burngreave, and parts of Sharrow. The city's industrial past and compact housing mean that many neighbourhoods have limited green space and high levels of hard surfaces, which absorb and retain heat.

Vulnerable groups, such as older adults, young children, and those with health conditions, are particularly at risk during heatwaves. In 2022, Sheffield recorded temperatures nearing 40°C, highlighting the urgency of adaptation. Many homes lack insulation or ventilation, and public spaces offer little shade or cooling.

Student challenge: What are the most effective ways to reduce heat stress in Sheffield's urban neighbourhoods during hotter summers? How could passive cooling, green infrastructure, or community-based interventions — like shaded bus stops, green roofs, or reflective materials — help reduce heat stress and improve comfort in Sheffield's most heat-exposed areas?

23: Restoring and Rewilding Sheffield's Post-Industrial Landscape

Sheffield's industrial legacy has left behind numerous brownfield and underused sites, particularly in areas like Attercliffe, the Lower Don Valley, and parts of the Upper Sheaf corridor. These spaces often suffer from soil contamination, poor biodiversity, and limited public access, but they also offer major opportunities for ecological restoration and carbon sequestration.

Community groups and local trusts are already working to rewild riverbanks and green corridors, but many sites remain neglected or fragmented. Restoring these areas could improve air quality, reduce flood risk, and create habitats for wildlife, while also offering green spaces for local communities. However, engineering challenges such as soil remediation, water management, and safe public access must be addressed.

Student challenge: How can engineering overcome the challenges of restoring and rewilding Sheffield's post-industrial land for biodiversity and carbon sequestration? Could modular, low-cost restoration techniques — like constructed wetlands, habitat mounds, or green corridors — transform Sheffield's post-industrial land into thriving, climate-resilient ecosystems?

24: Resilient Water Infrastructure During Droughts and Flooding

Sheffield faces growing pressure on its water systems due to climate change, ageing infrastructure, and urban development. The city's steep terrain and combined sewer system make it vulnerable to both drought and flooding. During heavy rainfall, stormwater mixes with sewage, leading to overflows that pollute rivers like the Don and Sheaf. At the same time, hotter, drier summers are increasing the risk of water shortages, especially in high-demand periods.

Yorkshire Water has identified Sheffield as an area of future water stress, and many older homes lack water-efficient fixtures. Engineering solutions are needed to reduce demand, manage stormwater, and improve system resilience.

Student challenge: How can Sheffield improve the resilience of its water supply and wastewater systems in the face of drought and flooding? Students could explore innovations such as greywater reuse, rainwater harvesting, smart leak detection, or nature-based solutions that can be applied in homes, schools, or public buildings across Sheffield.

25: Forest School Nurseries

Forest school nurseries encourage development through hands-on, nature based learning, allowing the freedom to explore and learn from nature. By growing connections with nature we can encourage future generations to continue to care for the world as they grow up.

However, in order to create effective learning environments for a range of early year ages (0-5 years) warm and comfortable inside spaces are needed in addition to the outdoors! As these would be situated in forests and natural landscapes, these inside spaces should be structures that leave no trace on the natural environment when removed.

Student challenge: Could we design small, off-grid pods that can integrate into natural environments to provide forest schools inside spaces with power, heating and water? How could these pods integrate learning opportunities for science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics into their design?

References

Flood, A. (2020, December 6). Britain has closed almost 800 libraries since 2010, figures show. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/dec/06/britain-has-closed-almost-800-libraries-since-2010-figures-show