How Sheffield heritage site looks set to be transformed into sports facility with padel and pickleball
Site looks set to become the latest city venue for sports including padel and pickleball
Pictures show how a Sheffield industrial site looks set to become the latest city venue for sports including padel and pickleball.
New documents show how plans have been drawn up by the business Abbeydale Kiln Limited, to breathe new life into the former Aluminium Systems and Surface Treatments site on Aizlewood Road, Highfield, as a leisure development.
A design and development proposal document says plans for the sports facility will also raise the profile of a nationally significant Sheffield industrial relic, dating back to the city’s Victorian past.
The document, which is due to go before Sheffield Council officials, has described the plans.
It states: “The proposal seeks to convert the existing industrial units into a racquet sports, health and leisure venue with six playing courts, a gym, cafe and social space.
“The proposed scheme will refurbish the external fabric of the two warehouse buildings, replacing and repairing damaged areas of cladding and giving all cladding a high quality finish.”
The outside area would be landscaped around the refurbished buildings with plans to create a ‘generous’ car parking provision and significantly increase the biodiversity of the site with 100 square metres of new trees and shrubs.
The inside of the buildings would include a reception, café/social area, gym, toilets and changing rooms at ground floor level of one of the warehouses.
And there would be an accessible pickleball court and single padel court at ground level under a new canopy to the south of the site.
At first floor level there would be two double padel courts in warehouse one and two pickleball courts in warehouse two.
The existing office building in the north of the site would be retained as an office associated with the venue.
The development is part of a site which also include a historic Sheffield industrial site, protected by heritage laws.
It is a Hoffman Kiln scheduled monument dating back to the late 1800s, and TJC Heritage described the structure as a brick 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.
The details submitted with the planning application say the scheme will enhance the structure.
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.
Some of the more modern, late 20th century structures on the site would be removed.
The report added the plans were an opportunity to create a unique asset for the neighbourhood and the Sheffield community as a whole.
It said: “It will enable residents to experience and participate in highly social sporting activity with all of the mental and physical health benefits that this brings. Furthermore, the venue will enhance and protect a nationally significant heritage monument (the Hoffman kiln) and greatly improve public access to this unique structure for current and future generations.”