Commercial Street: 'Unfortunate' paint job on art deco building in Sheffield city centre sparks controversy
This new paint job on a much-loved art deco building in Sheffield city centre has proved hugely controversial.
The white stone facade of the property on Commercial Street, near Ponds Forge leisure centre, has been painted grey.
A photo shared on X has sparked a huge reaction, with many objecting to what one person called the ‘greyification’.
It was shared by @Pott_Shrigley_, who said: “Can't believe someone did this to the Art Deco building on Commercial Street. Who paints Portland Stone?”
One person branded the new look ‘hideous’, while another called it ‘awful’, and a third asked ‘isn't everywhere grey enough?’.
Another person called commented: “Future historians will be asking why the UK was photographed in B&W in the early 21st Century.”
But one person said: “I'd be more concerned about the state of grade 2 listed former Yorshire Bank building to the left, which appears to have been left to fester for a number of years.”
Although it is beside the Grade II*-listed Canada House building, the property in question is not listed, nor is it within a Conservation Area, though there were previously plans for a new Castlegate Conservation.
As such, the owners of the building, which appears to have been converted into apartments, are free to paint it as they choose, without requiring any permission.
Councillor Janet Ridler, Sheffield City Council’s heritage champion, said she had ‘intervened to get this stopped while it was being painted in mid-May’.
She added: “Unfortunately building is not listed so the (private) owners are allowed to paint the front under permitted development without planning permission.”
The council said in a statement: “The City Council is aware of the building being painted and while it is unfortunate, we have looked into it, and we do not have any jurisdiction over the building as it isn’t listed and is privately owned.”
The Star has not been able to track down the property’s owners. When we visited this week, the door to the ground floor unit was shuttered up, with several tins of paint visible inside.