Sheffield heritage: Campaigners demand action after demolition of three historic buildings this year

Campaigners say there should be safeguards against developers leaving much-loved buildings for years before flattening them.

It comes after the loss of the facade of the Wiley & Co wine merchants at 23-25 Haymarket in the city centre, the Old Coroner’s Court and the Market Tavern, all Castlegate, this year.

Plans for a Castlegate Conservation Area were pulled at the last minute in 2019 amid claims it could be a “brake on development.”

Robin Hughes, of Hallamshire Historic Buildings, said the fate of the three buildings - and the poor condition of the Old Town Hall on Waingate - showed protection was desperately needed.

He said: “Six years ago the council was promising a conservation area for Castlegate which would have recognised the heritage value of buildings such as Wiley's and placed limits on what developers could get away with. 

“Early in 2019 a consultation on this was abruptly cancelled, without any reason being given. 

“Threats were made by some of those in power at the time concerning our other conservation areas, which were falsely labelled a "brake on development".

Relations between the council and heritage sector had recently improved, he added.

“But in Castlegate one element is missing…That is the long-promised conservation area. Its absence has been harmful. Delay now means more disasters such as the three historic buildings lost so far during 2024.”

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The black-and-white neo-Tudor style Wiley and Co facade, dating from 1851, was unique in the city centre. After several years encased in scaffolding it was deemed unsafe by Sheffield City Council and last month dropped by contractors working for developer Brijesh Patel.

Hopes it would be recorded and stored for “possible reuse” were dashed.

The Old Coroner’s Court on Nursery Street was demolished earlier this year. Built in 1913, Hallamshire Historic Buildings had campaigned to save it.

In August, the former Market Tavern on Exchange Street was demolished by contractors of Sheffield City Council amid confusion as to whether it was dangerous.

Last month the city council warned it could issue an enforcement notice to make the Old Town Hall safe and waterproof.

Landlord Gary Ata snapped up the Grade II listed building in December 2022. Since then, it appears he has “done nothing,” according to the Friends of the Old Town Hall. Mr Ata has also been prosecuted and fined over his other properties in Sheffield.

Nigel Slack, chair of the Victorian Society in South Yorkshire, said there had been a “litany of developers that have neglected their responsibilities and have ignored the wishes of the city council's officers and councillors.”

Historian Ron Clayton claimed Sheffield City Council had an “inbuilt disregard” for what remains of its heritage and called the demolition of the Market Tavern a “disgrace.” 

Coun Ben Miskell, chair of the transport, regeneration and climate policy committee at Sheffield City Council, said they would be “reviewing the possibility” of bolstering the conservation status of the Castlegate area.

He added: “We are incredibly excited for the future of Castlegate, especially with the work currently taking place on the site of the old Castle Market, transforming it into a wonderful new public park area including displaying the remains of the historic Sheffield Castle for the first time in decades.

“It is our ambition that the new park will be a catalyst for further investment into the area.

“Enabled by funding from both the new Government and Historic England, we will also be reviewing the possibility of bolstering the conservation status of the Castlegate area over the coming months.”