Not strictly true.
Although Sheffield as a city has suffered a lot and has some extremely poor areas, a recent survey by Barclays Bank pointed to the fact that the western edges of Sheffield were some of the most affluent in Britain, on a par with Chelsea & Kensington and the Cheshire belt. So there is money to be tapped into.
As for the business park, office space has a finite life and companies tend to move on to newer premises quicker then one might think. The region does have a lot of office space but it is the newer office space which is in demand.
And whatever happened to the news that Boeing was setting up an R&D facility in the area with the local universities?
Having said all that, I have to agree that the airport was a mistake in the first place. It is rather too easy for the well off population on the west of the city to drive 50 minutes or so to Manchester Airport, where there are LOTS more flights to everywhere!
Like it or not Sheffield has an airport, would it not be better if it could be put to some use other than offices and warehouses?
Last edited by zzzz; 18th Aug 2002 at 10:33.