CONSERVATION ADVISORY GROUP

Meeting held 27th January, 2009

Name Organisation PRESENT: Mr. Tim Hale (Deputy Chair) Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mrs. Joan Sewell Landscape Institute Mrs. Christine Ball Sheffield Civic Trust Mr. Stanley Jones Hunter Archaeological Society Mr. Albert Kirton South Yorkshire Industrial History Society Mr. Howard Greaves Hallamshire Historic Buildings Society Mr. Bob Marshall Royal Town Planning Institute Dr. Alan Ward Institution of Civil Engineers Councillor Mike Davis Sheffield City Council

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE Apologies for absence were received from Dr. Philip Booth (University of Sheffield), Miss Ruth Harman (Victorian Society), Professor Clyde Binfield (20th Century Society) and Mr. Bob Hawkins (Council for the Protection of Rural England).

2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Deputy Chair (Mr. Hale) welcomed Councillor Mike Davis who was attending a meeting of the Group for the first time.

3. MINUTES The minutes of the meeting held on 25th November, 2008 were approved as a correct record, subject to the addition in item 2, of the words “Mr. Stan Jones and Mr. Bob Hawkins would visit Cowmouth Farm” and in Item 7, of the words “The Group regretted the loss of a Georgian terrace of buildings on London Road, adjacent to the Albion Public House” and, arising therefrom, the Group noted that:- (a) the demolition of the Georgian terrace of buildings, on London Road was not unauthorised development and there were no grounds for taking enforcement action; (b) new proposals which had been submitted regarding the development of the Tapton Halls of Residence, Crookes, particularly regarding the Walled Garden, would be considered at the next meeting; and (c) further consideration of the Milton Street Conservation Area was in abeyance, because priority had been given to the Grenoside Conservation Area Assessment, for which public consultations would commence next month; and Meeting of the Sheffield Conservation Advisory Group 27.1.2009 Page 2

(d) there had been no further development regarding the Norfolk Arms Public House, Ringinglow, but the property had not been sold.

4. CHAIR’S REPORT The Deputy Chair (Mr. Hale) stated that he had nothing to report.

5. HEAD OF PLANNING’S REPORT The Head of Planning reported that 130-150 buildings had been considered in a review of listed buildings within the City. (a) 30 of the buildings had been added to the national List of Buildings of Special or Historic Interest and the remainder would form the basis of a local list. A full schedule of the listed buildings, (which had formed part of the Sheffield Metal Trades Analysis, commencing in 2000), would be submitted to the next meeting; and (b) full consultations regarding the Grenoside Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Proposals would commence in February and copies of them would be available at the City Council’s website, the Central Library and local libraries and at First Point, Howden House. The excluded buildings were, essentially, developments carried out during the 1960s. A map indicating the exclusions would be submitted to the next meeting. The consultation period would end on 28th February, 2009.

6. PRE -APPLICATION PROPOSALS University of Sheffield Removal of the existing cladding and re-cladding of floors 1-18 and the removal and replacement of aluminium louvres from Floor 19 upwards, at the University of Sheffield’s Arts Tower, Western Bank (Listed Grade II*). Alan Robshaw, HLM Architects, gave a presentation on the proposal. The Group regretted the lack of earlier investigation of the cladding system, which might have allowed for a development of a bespoke replacement cladding. The Group felt that, in view of the fact that the building was the first postwar building of its type and had spoken a new language for architecture, a replacement of bespoke design would be justified, rather than a market version replacement. The Group wondered whether the Arts Tower would retain its listed status, if the entire external cladding was replaced. The Group considered that scaled down physical models of a section of the existing cladding and proposed cladding would enable better assessment of the effect and impact of the proposed changes and that a digital model of the Arts Tower, indicating the existing and proposed cladding and showing the wider context of the scheme, including the views towards the University’s Campus and Weston Park, would be helpful in assessing the proposals.

Tesco Superstore Erection of store and associated retail outlets at Spital Hill, Savile Street and Carlisle Street (affects setting of listed buildings on Grade Meeting of the Sheffield Conservation Advisory Group 27.1.2009 Page 3

II* and II) The Group welcomed the proposed preservation of the retaining wall and railway tunnel within the site. The Group felt that the design of the proposed development was less robust and weaker than that of the retaining wall, the tunnel and adjoining Wicker Arches. The Group queried the need for the proposed wire mesh material and suggested that a specimen should be submitted, to enable consideration of the proposals. The Group felt that if the atrium was pointed towards Wicker Arches, it would have greater practical use. The Group considered that, while it was straightforward to follow the submitted coloured plans, a model of the development would be useful, showing the development in a wider context, particularly indicating the view through Wicker Arches

Sheffield High School, 6 th Form College Construction of a two storey extension to form new classrooms and ancillary facilities at Sheffield High School, 6th Form College, 1 Melbourne Avenue (Listed Grade II and within Broomhill Conservation Area). The Group felt that the combination of materials was unusual, particularly the use of timber, which was at variance with the materials of the listed buildings. The Group considered that the design should emphasise the fact that it was a new extension building and that the extension should be freestanding with, if necessary, a covered walkway. The Group felt that the curved Sedum roof was alien to the conservation area. The Group also regretted the use of cedar cladding which would be visible from Glossop Road and a substantial wider area on the non-public side of the building. The Group considered that the scheme would be unacceptable and affirmed its previous decisions regarding, the construction of an extension at the site.

7. BUILDINGS OF SPECIAL ARCHITECTURAL OR HISTORIC INTEREST The Group considered the following applications for planning permission for development affecting buildings of special architectural or historic interest and made the observations stated:- (a) removal and replacement of internal doors/existing timber petition walls and fireproofing of steel windows on fire exit route, at Sheffield Central Library, Surrey Street (Case No.08/05959/LBC). The Group felt that there was no objection in principle to the proposals, but regretted the loss of so many original features. The Group requested that alternative uses be found for the existing doors, if possible and that in any event the features, including the doors, should be retained. The Group considered that, as far as possible, the replacement features should reiterate the patterning and detail of the original features. (b) erection of five dwellinghouses and associated parking at the Orchard, Foxhill Crescent (Case No.08/05771/FUL) (affects setting of listed building on Grade II). The Group felt that the height of the development was excessive and the design did not acknowledge the design of the surrounding houses. The Group considered that the proposed development, of four houses, Meeting of the Sheffield Conservation Advisory Group 27.1.2009 Page 4

would be overdevelopment of the site and that the erection of three houses would be more realistic. The Group believed that the proposed location of parking would damage the environment of the adjacent houses and any parking should be constructed with substantial screening. The Group felt that the development would have a damaging impact on the setting of the listed building and it was therefore unacceptable. The Group also observed that there was a discrepancy between the submitted elevations and plans and requested that a tree survey of the site be obtained.

8. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Members of the Group reported on development affecting listed buildings and conservation areas and the Group noted that:- (a) various features, particularly the arch at Kangaroo Works, Wellington Street, which formed part of the site of the multi-storey car park serving Hammersons’ development, Sevenstone, would be re-erected to form the entrance to the new Hawley Collection Building at Kelham Island Museum. The arch itself would be moved when funding was secured. The application for planning permission for the development of Sevenstone was being processed; (b) the Director of Planning would furnish Mr. Jones with plans and other documents and photographs relating to Cowmouth Farm, which Mr. Jones would survey once access was granted; and (c) the funding was available for the development of the Brooklyn Bridge and the various permissions had been obtained for the scheme. The cause of the delay in its implementation was unknown. The Director of Planning would attempt to ascertain what the reason was for the delay.

NOTE: (An application for the partial demolition, refurbishment and alterations to buildings to form 77 apartments and 78 square metres of office accommodation at Portland Works, Randall Street (Case Nos. 08/ 01851/LBC and 08/01850/FUL) was withdrawn from consideration by the Group).

(Councillor Mike Davis declared an interest as a substitute member of the City Centre, South and East and West and North Planning and Highways Area Boards, in relation to those planning applications that would be considered by the Boards, but he stated that he would participate in the determination of the applications by the Boards, as he would not pre-determine his views on the applications during the meeting of the Advisory Group).

(The above minutes are subject to approval by the Group at a future meeting).