Green light for protected historic Sheffield site to be converted into sports facility and café
Officials say plans will not harm Victorian industrial relic
Plans to include a historic part of Sheffield’s industrial past as part of a new sports facility can go ahead, say council officials.
Sheffield Council has approved planning permission for the scheme, which will bring padel and pickleball courts to the former Aluminium Systems and Surface Treatments site on Aizlewood Road, Highfield, as well as a cafe and gym.
The development is part of a site which includes a historic Sheffield industrial site, protected by heritage laws - a Hoffman Kiln scheduled monument dating back to the late 1800s, once used to manufacture bricks
The scheme has been approved with a number of conditions attached, after a council report recommended it was given the go ahead.
It stated: “The proposal will result in no harm to the character and setting of the schedule monument and see the re-use of a redundant building for a use which promotes good health.
“The proposal will result in no significant harm to the amenity of neighbouring residential properties or prejudice the operation of neighbouring commercial business/units, and sufficient on-site parking will be provided.”
Documents sent to the authority show the plans , drawn up by the business Abbeydale Kiln Limited.
A design and development proposal document says the plans for the sports facility would raise the profile of a nationally significant Sheffield industrial relic, dating back to the city’s Victorian past, converting it into a racket sports, health and leisure venue with six playing courts, a gym, café and social space.
“The proposed scheme will refurbish the external fabric of the two warehouse buildings, replacing and repairing damaged areas of cladding and giving all cladding a high quality finish.”
The outside area would be landscaped around the refurbished buildings with plans to create a ‘generous’ car parking provision and significantly increase the biodiversity of the site with 100 square metres of new trees and shrubs.
The inside of the buildings would include a reception, café/social area, gym, toilets and changing rooms at ground floor level of one of the warehouses.
And there would be an accessible pickleball court and single padel court at ground level under a new canopy to the south of the site.
At first floor level there would be two double padel courts in warehouse one and two pickleball courts in warehouse two.
The historic kiln was built by The Sheffield Patent Brick Company in 1879.
Hoffman kilns were a form of continuous brick-burning kiln developed by the engineer Friedrich Hoffman in Berlin during the mid 19th century. The structure is considered to be of high (national) heritage significance.
The developer says it is therefore working with Historic England and will separately be seeking Secretary of State consent for minor works that will restore the kiln closer to its original state and showcase and protect this fabulous asset for Sheffield residents, now and for generations to come.