Landmark set to be demolished as major Sheffield science plan gets underway
Familiar building will have be flattened before construction work starts
Hoardings have gone up as builders start work on a major laboratory project next to Sheffield’s ring road - with a landmark building set to be demolished
The purple boards have sealed off a section of land which is to be part of a huge redevelopment next to Upper Hannover Street, near the Sheffield University tram stop.
The work is preparation for the university’s planned Central Teaching Laboratories building.
The first phase of work will involve closing the car park outside the university’s Services to allow for the demolition of a number of disused buildings on Hounsfield Road, and for the energisation of a new electricity sub-station.
Among those buildings to go will be the former University branch of HSBC, which had in more recent years been a Sainsbury’s Local, However it has not been used as a Sainsbury’s for six years, and has not been a bank since 2011.
The university said in a statement: “The University has owned these buildings for many years, but they are no longer suitable for modern use and are not needed for future activity. Sustainability will be considered throughout the demolition process and where possible, materials such as stone, setts and other reusable elements will be reclaimed for potential future use elsewhere on campus.
They added a photographic survey has also been done as part of a historic building record.
They also warned that the new sub-station would require work on Hounsfield Road itself, although the road will remain accessible throughout.
Construction of the new lab building is expected to start in the new year.
The statement added: “This project is being developed to give future students access to modern, flexible and high-quality practical teaching facilities for science, health and related subjects.
“The building will bring together teaching currently delivered across a number of older and more fragmented spaces, creating a more consistent experience for students and better facilities for the academic and technical teams who plan, prepare and deliver practical teaching.”
Bosses expect the new facility to help attract students to the city.
The plans to build what will be called The Central Teaching Laboratories on a site next to the ring road on Upper Hanover Street was approved by Sheffield Council last year.
But the authority told the University of Sheffield that it must meet a string of conditions before the £86 million facility could open
The list of conditions that must be met includes work to protect trees, to protect the ring road, and to improve the pavements nearby.
It also orders that a new park must be in place for the public to use withing six months of the labs opening.
The new building is expected to be used by 1,188 people at any one time, comprised of 1,106 students and 82 staff.