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.
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.
Delivering the City Centre Strategy will result in:
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:
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:
The main entrance to Doncaster Railway Station has been transformed into an open, vibrant, welcoming new arrival point for Doncaster.
This area has several plots available for developers and investors requiring excellent transport links and is an ideal investment area for office and residential development opportunities.
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.
Gateway One will also include an area of public space across five floors with two commercial units on the ground floor to incorporate alfresco dining.
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.
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:
Future & ongoing development includes:
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.
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.
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