Fire safety work costing £18m to protect 20 Sheffield tower blocks

More than £18 million is to be spent on fire safety works at 20 Sheffield tower blocks.
By Julia Armstrong, Local Democracy Reporter
Published 22nd Feb 2024, 10:48 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Sheffield City Council’s finance committee (February 19) approved the spending on fire compartmentation and renewal or installation of fire safety systems at 20 residential tower blocks.

The scheme is the third phase of fire safety work on council high-rise homes. It includes closing bin chutes and replacing flat front entrance doors.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A council report said the work will cover six blocks in Gleadless, three at Leverton Gardens, four in Netherthorpe, including the “higher-risk” Cornhill block used for temporary accommodation, and seven in Upperthorpe.

High-rise blocks at Leverton Gardens Highfield, Sheffield will benefit from new fire safety work. Picture: Google MapsHigh-rise blocks at Leverton Gardens Highfield, Sheffield will benefit from new fire safety work. Picture: Google Maps
High-rise blocks at Leverton Gardens Highfield, Sheffield will benefit from new fire safety work. Picture: Google Maps

Other spending plans approved by the committee include a total of £200,000 for resurfacing works.

The council’s neighbourhood teams have identified spots around city housing estate parking areas, access roads and footpaths that are in a state of disrepair.

The areas are not included in the council Streets Ahead contract with Amey which looks after the city’s highways.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Follow the latest from Sheffield United with The Star’s free football emails

The report said: “The sites vary from compacted aggregate which is loosening with signs of holes constantly being refilled, to asphalted sites that have obvious areas where the surface is breaking up and have many potholes which are potential trip hazards and are health and safety risks.

“The sites require resurfacing and some edging repairs/replacements. If these areas are left in their current condition they will continue to deteriorate and require constant repair which will impact on the repairs budget.”

The sites are:

  • Orchard Road
  • Tithe Barn Avenue
  • Greenland Drive
  • Bolehill Road garages
  • Greenland Way
  • Newfield Green Shopping Centre
  • Whitehouse Road
  • Richmond Road
  • Ernest Copley House, Peckham Road
  • Netherthorpe Place
  • New Road, Stocksbridge
  • Carlton Rise garages
  • Ravenscroft Road
  • Dryden Way
  • Skelton Lane
  • Skelton Drive
  • Deerlands Close
  • Woodhouse Gardens
  • Holgate Close
  • Tithe Barn Lane
  • Beaver Hill Road

At the Errington Estate in Arbourthorne, work costing £33,600 should start at the end of March to help prevent incidents of anti-social behaviour in and around 11 blocks of 99 flats.

A project to help provide SEND (special education needs and disabilities) places at Hinde House Primary and Secondary academies in Shiregreen will cost £58,500. This will involve building work, furniture and fittings.

There will be eight new primary and 16 secondary spaces at the schools, run by Brigantia Learning Trust.

Related topics:SheffieldSheffield City Council