Key Sectors

City Centre

Doncaster city centre is a hub of retail, services and employment, a place of heritage and character, and it holds strong memories for people of many generations.

For more information contact Vicky Hazlett

Adapt, grow and thrive

The city centre is being re-evaluated demonstrating how it can adapt, grow and thrive by building on our proud heritage and existing strengths. It connects with all communities and creates opportunities for people and businesses across our many towns, villages and neighbourhoods.

The aim is to completely transform the way the city centre looks through strategic leadership, partnership working and investment, capitalising on the potential that exists.

Creating a safe, prosperous and vibrant city

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Major capital projects or significant interventions delivered since 2016
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+Core city centre residents

Creating a safe, prosperous and vibrant city

Delivering the City Centre Strategy will result in:

Safer and cleaner
Welcoming to all and more child & family friendly
New housing including homes for families and older people
A diverse leisure, culture, retail and food & drink offer
More events and entertainment
Well-designed places and more green spaces
More business and easily accessible public services
Well connected - a city centre that is easy to get to, and around

Download the Doncaster City Centre Strategy View the Doncaster City Centre Strategy online

Our city centre opportunities

Doncaster is an ambitious city, named as one of the top 10 'Small European Cities Of The Future 2025' in the FDi European Cities and Regions of the Future competition.

We have opportunity sites that are key locations for potential future development, regeneration and investment as follows:

City Centre Core

The main retail, business and leisure focus for investment and interventions and the first choice for most new development. Split into three core areas of regeneration and investment:

City Gateway: a key point of arrival in the city and home to the new Gateway One development; a sustainable office hub due to open 2027.

Waterfront: a major development opportunity with great potential for mixed-used living, working and leisure.

Civic & Cultural Quarter: opportunity for residential and commercial development.

Doncaster Markets: a vital asset and a key priority following the refurbishment of the Corn Exchange and Wool Market
City Gateway and Gateway One

The main entrance to Doncaster Railway Station is an open, vibrant, welcoming new arrival point for Doncaster.

Work on a 52,000 sq. ft Grade A office building set to become Doncaster’s new flagship £32m Digital Tech Hub, adjacent to Doncaster train station has already started with completion expected early 2027. Building on the city’s ambition to grow a digital and tech cluster of national significance, the new Hub will act as a magnet for leading digital and tech companies looking for opportunities to scale and grow their business.
Waterfront

A £400 million regeneration project aiming to transform one of the largest city-centre brownfield sites in the north.

Remediation work is underway to clean up the land for future development schemes and is expected to continue until early 2026. Sections of the site are temporarily converted to green open space with minimal structures to maintain future development flexibility.

What’s next? Finalise detailed planning to include architecture, approvals, private sector partners with ongoing community and developer engagement to ensure alignment and funding.
Civic and Cultural Quarter (CCQ)

Doncaster’s Civic and Cultural Quarter is a key part of the City Centre transformation and has already significantly reshaped and revitalised Waterdale. The area is poised to continue its transformation encouraging investment and attracting footfall to this vibrant part of the city centre.

Completed projects include:

Sir Nigel Gresley Square

Cast Theatre

City of Doncaster Council Offices

Danum, Gallery, Library & Museum

Savoy Cinema & Restaurants Complex

Housing & Parking

Doncaster UTC (University Technical College)

Future & ongoing development includes:

St. James Baths

Copley House
Doncaster Markets

Doncaster’s historic and vibrant market offers a unique opportunity for commercial development, investment, and business growth. With a blend of traditional market charm and modern retail innovation, Doncaster market is a thriving hub of activity with high footfall and strong community engagement.

With a diverse tenant mix, long standing, successful traders coupled with recent capital investment in infrastructure and refurbishment it is easy to see why Doncaster market provides future business potential.

Creating a successful City Centre

Distinctively Doncaster: change and development must recognise, respect and reflect the features, landmarks and characteristics that define the city and make Doncaster special.

The ‘city core’ sits at the heart of Doncaster and is easily accessible from the towns and communities across the borough and acts as a tourist destination in its own right.

Download our Doncaster City Centre map