New courtyard planned for "iconic" offices in Sheffield city centre

The former HSBC office Griffin House on Tenter Street is being redeveloped after the bank moved to new premises in the Heart of the City 2 development.

Architects Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson say the interconnected office blocks, known as Pennine Five, will be transformed into a "vibrant and iconic" part of Sheffield city centre.

Two floors of one block will be removed to create a thoroughfare including a "large, open and inviting" courtyard space accessible from all directions.

The Pennine Centre was originally built in the 1970s and was on the site of the Omnibus Depot but the architects say the courtyard is gloomy and difficult to navigate.

A planning application says: "Currently, the offices face inward into a dark and uninviting courtyard. The redevelopment of the buildings will result in a more outward facing and open area, centred around a welcoming public plaza.

"This will make the development more useful with a good mix of facilities that will be accessible to everyone."

The architects say currently, access through the site is difficult due to limited daylight, high security, abrupt changes to levels and physical barriers such as gates and fences.

"This central space was not enjoyed by the building’s users and predominantly provided access for service vehicles, making it inhospitable to pedestrians.

"The general refurbishment requires an engaging and safe public space that office workers can enjoy and access freely.

"This necessitates isolating the courtyard from vehicles, to the clear benefit of pedestrians and office workers who want to enjoy the space.

"Opening up the central courtyard is a priority in establishing a vibrant urban public space. The existing situation where users must pass under the inter-block bridgeway, through a flat lower level courtyard, then ascend to the higher level courtyard from a staircase unobservable from the street, is far too convoluted.

"The area includes a multitude of Sheffield’s taller buildings. This often leads to a breeze flowing along the main thoroughfares, but stale air within enclosed courtyards.

"While excess winds are firmly kept out of the courtyard by the five blocks, the removal of the ground and first floors of block four would encourage light ventilation across the courtyard and subtly increase the amount of daylight."

Planning officers are considering the application here.

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