A landmark Build to Rent neighbourhood shaping a new generation of city-centre living in Sheffield.
Client Ridgeback and Henry Boot Construction
Project Role Design
Scale 365 homes
Status Complete
Kangaroo Works sits at the heart of Sheffield city centre, forming a key part of the Heart of the City II regeneration masterplan. This long-term vision is reshaping the centre into a dynamic mixed-use district—bringing together homes, workplaces, retail, hospitality and new public spaces to strengthen Sheffield’s role as a regional commercial hub.
The site occupies a pivotal position between the formal grain of the city core and the characterful Devonshire Quarter. Historically home to a nineteenth-century tool factory, it carried a strong industrial legacy but required a new identity fit for modern urban living.
Our brief was to deliver 365 Build to Rent homes alongside active ground-floor commercial space—creating a place that felt commercially robust, contextually rooted and genuinely liveable.
Aerial view of Kangaroo Works within Sheffield city centre, revealing its stepped roofscape and courtyard form.
Wayfinding graphics pay homage to the nineteenth-century factory that once occupied the site, connecting past and present.
A Contemporary Courtyard Community
We designed Kangaroo Works around Sheffield’s vernacular courtyard typology—placing shared space at its centre to encourage connection and everyday interaction. The form steps with the city’s sloping topography, mediating between surrounding scales while creating a distinctive roofscape.
Brick became the primary façade material, drawing inspiration from Sheffield’s industrial heritage while giving the development texture, warmth and longevity. Generous ground-floor commercial units activate Rockingham and Wellington Streets, strengthening the public realm and embedding the building within the life of the city.
The 365 apartments—ranging from one to three bedrooms—are designed for long-term rental living, prioritising quality, durability and operational efficiency in line with the evolving BtR sector.
Long term living, lasting impact.
Kangaroo Works helps anchor the next chapter of Heart of the City II—bringing new residents, activity and commercial confidence into the centre of Sheffield.
By blending heritage cues with contemporary urban living, the scheme creates a place that feels both familiar and forward-looking. Active streets, shared courtyards and a strong material identity ensure it contributes not just homes, but character and continuity to the city.
Kangaroo Works plays its part in redefining Sheffield’s city centre—bringing life back into its streets and creating a neighbourhood built for the long term.
“For Sheffield, this isn’t just about delivering apartments. It’s about introducing a new way of living in the city centre — homes designed specifically for rent, managed for the long term, and embedded within a wider regeneration story.”
Executive Director
Awards
2024
Insider Yorkshire Property Awards Design Excellence (shortlist)
Insider Yorkshire Property Awards Residential Development over 100 units (shortlist)
Insider South Yorkshire Property Awards Design Excellence (shortlist)
2023
The Yorkshire's Residential Real Estate Awards Best in BtR (shortlist)
Collaborators
Contractor
Henry Boot Construction
Interior Designer
93ft
Photographer
Ila
Videographer
Ila
