What is 'SPARC'?

The Sheffield Property and Regeneration Committee, commonly abbreviated to SPARC, is the focus for local and regional property and regeneration businesses to represent Chamber members. Its activities are:

• To represent the views and interests of the members of Sheffield Chamber in relation to matters associated with property and regeneration.
• To lobby decision makers to influence all areas of planning, policy, development and resource allocation relating to property and regeneration in the region.
• To provide a single point of contact from SCCI for matters relating to property and regeneration in the region.
• To promote and use members' knowledge to provide advice to public and private sector bodies within the region in order to create an environment in which property and regeneration projects can support growth and investment.

What do they do?

SPARC are actively consulted by a variety of bodies; most recently UK Coal consulted the committee on the proposed development at Waverley. The committee also contribute a monthly column to the Sheffield Telegraph, which provides an expert view on property, and they regularly give advice to members on issues such as planning applications and conflicts with landlords. SPARC are now actively lobbying for the reinstatement of empty property rate relief and are working with the British Chambers of Commerce policy unit to see this happen.

When do they meet?

SPARC meet on a bi-monthly basis. All meeting dates can be found on the events calendar, although attendance is only open to the steering committee. Members are free to contact the Policy and Representation team with queries or concerns; these can then be raised on your behalf at the next meeting. We may able to consult the committee sooner if an issue requires more immediate attention.

Who is on the committee?

• Alastair Reid (Chair - Halliwells LLP)
• Bob Asquith (Praxis)
• Claire Glew (Wake Smith & Tofields)
• Dean Sheehy (Rider Levett Bucknall)
• Fraser Scott (Mascot Management)
• Jon Bond (Bond Bryan)
• Justin Evans (ARUP)
• Lee Barron (Turner and Townsend)
• Nick Tovey (Wardell Armstrong)
• Peter Shapland (Institution of Civil Engineers)
• Peter Thompson (Creative Sheffield)
• Peter Wood (Sheffield Technology Parks)
• Robert Lane (Lane Walker)
• Sean Larkin (Bowmer and Kirkland)
• Tim Bottrill (Knight Frank )