CN Tower: Six-storey Sheffield city centre office block gets go-ahead despite protests

Sheffield City Council’s planning committee rejected a previous bid to build a seven-storey office block on the corner of Charles Street and Norfolk Street because it would cut out too much light from neighbouring flats and was inappropriate for the city centre conservation area, alongside the listed Prudential Assurance Building.

That decision has been challenged by developers Grantside on appeal. The meeting heard that, if the firm wins its appeal, it can choose which design to go ahead with.

Cllr Brian Holmshaw unsuccessfully requested that the item be deferred because he said objectors had not been informed and had little time to look at the revised proposals and attend the meeting.

Planning officer Lucy Bond said that the consultation process had been conducted properly.

Objector Ann Walton said the situation had been unclear to neighbours because of the appeal overlapping with the revised application.

Ms Bond said the height of the new proposal was 2.9 metres less than the original, making it far less visible. The frontage has been slightly stepped back and there is more space between the building and the courtyard of St Paul’s Chambers.

The seven-storey plan was judged too overbearing on neighbouring apartments in Berona House, St Paul’s Chambers and Waterhouse. Ms Bond said that most surrounding apartments are dual aspect but three flats in Berona House only have balconies that face the new building.

‘Second-class citizens’

Although the building would block their light in March, there would be only a minimal loss of light in the summer, she said, adding that the design of the balconies already cut down light to those flats.

Ms Bond said: “The outlook to the existing building is currently very poor, with metal staircases and air conditioning units. That will be replaced by a better building with a wall that includes a green wall and no windows overlooking. You need to take an overall perspective to the improved aspect overall and light.”

She said that the building will have a net zero carbon rating and there is a need for grade A office accommodation in the city centre.

Ann Walton said: “I am full of admiration for the work that the planning officers have done to try to make this better, it does seem substantial. It does make precious little difference to what is happening to the light levels to the properties. All the objections we had before come back into this.”

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Grantside CEO Steve Davis said: “Our mission is to create exceptional spaces and places through a people-first design approach, embracing wellness and environment and technology.”

He said the firm had reacted to feedback from interested parties and the building would significantly improve the corner “from its current poor and tired state”. Mr Davis said that Sheffield has the lowest number of grade A office buildings of all core cities.

Cllr Holmshaw opposed the plan, saying: “The light levels are already quite low. I can’t understand why we would want to make that any worse.” He added: “I think city centre residents should expect everything that everyone else in this city gets. We can’t treat them as second-class citizens.”

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