Failure to reduce the height is “likely to result in an unsuccessful outcome for the application”

Plans for £80m flats may be refused because they would alter the view of Sheffield Cathedral.

Officials say the Weston Tower development at West Bar would cause unacceptable harm to the ‘clean and unbroken’ backdrop to the medieval building on Church Street.

The 27-storey Weston Tower development at West Bar would cause unacceptable harm to the backdrop to the Cathedral on Church Street (back left), planners say. | Packaged Living

placeholder image — The 27-storey Weston Tower development at West Bar would cause unacceptable harm to the backdrop to the Cathedral on Church Street (back left), planners say. | Packaged Living

And failure to reduce the height of the block of flats is “likely to result in an unsuccessful outcome for the application”.

Developers Packaged Living submitted plans for 316 flats in a 27-storey block, with 13 and 10-storey ‘shoulders’, on West Bar Green.

It would replace the existing Weston Tower, an eyesore which has been disused for more than 20 years.

How the Cathedral and Weston Tower would look if the scheme was approved. | scc

Mock-up images show how the Cathedral would look from Fargate if the scheme was approved.

A planning report states it would “compete” with the spire.

Weston Tower would 'compete' with the Grade I listed Cathedral spire, a report states. | scc

It adds: “The harm the development would cause by intruding unsympathetically in the setting of Sheffield Cathedral is a crucial issue in terms of a Grade I listed heritage asset and the City Centre Conservation Area.”

The Cathedral is the earliest surviving building in Sheffield city centre and in the top 2.5 per cent of listed buildings nationally, it adds.

The report suggests cutting six storeys off the height of the proposed tower block.

Sheffield Cathedral today has a ‘clean and unbroken’ backdrop. | IM

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A spokesperson for Packaged Living said they had been working with the city council and were encouraged by the progress being made.

“We are firmly committed to Sheffield and remain excited about the opportunity to bring forward a high-quality development that will make a positive and lasting contribution to the city centre,” they said.

Weston Tower has been empty for more than two decades. | NW

“Weston Tower represents a significant investment in the regeneration of this long derelict site, delivering new homes and commercial space that will support the continued development of Sheffield’s Innovation Spine.

“We have been working constructively with Sheffield City Council to address the matters raised through the planning process and are encouraged by the progress being made.

“We remain confident in our proposals and look forward to delivering a development that reflects both our ambition for the site and our long-term commitment to Sheffield.”