Historic Sheffield monument 'was turned into cannabis factory' but could now become 'leisure development'
Details of abuse of building revealed in council documents outlining new plans
Criminals turned a historic Sheffield industrial site, protected by heritage laws, into a cannabis factory, it has been revealed.
They got into the site, a scheduled monument dating back to the late 1800s, and converted parts of the building so that they could grow the illegal drug, new documents have stated.
The illegal actions of the criminals who got into the buildings are revealed in a planning application, which would see a former car repairs workshop in Highfield, Sheffield, converted into a sports centre and cafe, on what was once the Aluminium Systems And Surface Treatments site on Aizlewood Road.
TJC Heritage Ltd described what had been done to the structure, a brick kiln called a Hoffman Kiln, in a heritage statement which has been submitted to Sheffield Council has part of the planning application.
It describes the structure as having been built by The Sheffield Patent Brick Company in 1879, and adds: “The structure survives as a brick built, structure with a rounded rectangular footprint.”
Hoffman kilns were a form of continuous brick-burning kiln developed by the engineer Friedrich Hoffman in Berlin during the mid 19th century. The structure is considered to be of high (national) heritage significance.
It goes on to describe the illegal drugs farm.
It states: “Since the scheduling of the monument in 2003 part of the Hoffman Kiln was misappropriated as a cannabis farm.
“This has resulted in the insertion of a plywood floor, the covering of the walls in plastic, the installation of a ventilation and lighting system and the introduction of some concrete blockwork and a uPVC door to partition off the space .
“It is not currently known to what extent this has impacted the structure and the reversibility of these interventions.”
The documents also describe the plans, by the business Abbeydale Kiln Limited, to breathe new life into the site as a leisure development.
A design and development proposal document says plans for the sports facility proposed to reverse the works undertaken during the structure’s ‘misappropriation’ as a cannabis factory.
It states: “This will enhance the structure through the removal of inappropriate materials and the re-instatement of the structures floor plan, resulting in a positive effect upon the structure’s heritage significance.”
It describes the proposed scheme as intentionally designed to better present the historic structure of the kiln in more of its originally constructed state, while allowing the public to enjoy, learn about, and celebrate part of Sheffield’s industrial heritage.
It says: “The applicant is therefore working closely with Historic England and will separately be seeking Secretary of State consent for minor works that will restore the kiln closer to its original state and showcase and protect this fabulous asset for Sheffield residents, now and for generations to come.
“Whilst the kiln itself is to be preserved, with minimal intervention, the surroundings of the kiln will be adapted to accommodate the proposed pickleball and padel courts alongside their associated services.
“It is proposed that the adjacent steel framed shed will be retained with partitions introduced to create a reception/lounge, store, office and changing facilities and gymnasium on the ground floor with two pickleball courts on the first floor.”
Some of the more modern, late 20th century structures on the site would be removed.