Plans approved to remove flammable cladding from Sheffield's tallest skyscraper
Council backing for safety move in tallest building
Plans to strip flammable cladding from a landmark Sheffield building have been given the go ahead.
Sheffield Council has granted planning permission for the scheme, which would see the cladding taken from the towering City Lofts building, next to Arundel Gate, and replaced with a new, non-flamable alternative.
The authority has approved the scheme, but attached conditions to make sure it is happy with the design and colour of the new covering.
The 32-story City Lofts building, next to Arundel Gate, was completed in 2010, and become the tallest building in the city upon completion.
But 15 years on, there are concerns over some of the cladding that was used, and architects, Halliday Meecham Architects, drew up plans to change the exterior for something safer.
In a report recommending that the scheme was approved, with a decision now made to grant the permission conditionally, council officers stated: “It is noted that the building is in relatively close proximity to the Town Hall, which is a Listed Building, and as a tall building will also be seen within the context of this.
“However, the more immediate impact is to the setting of the conservation area. The proposed replacement of materials, to match existing is considered to be acceptable in principle and will result in a like for like alteration. Samples have been reviewed on site and materials brochures supplied. There is however, a conflict between the panels on site and the specifications provided. Whilst attempts have been made to clarify this, no confirmatory details have been submitted.
“However, on the basis that like for like replacement is acceptable, the final details can be approved through condition. “
Halliday Meecham said in a report sent to the council’s planning department: “The client has identified a need for a full cladding replacement scheme and commissioned a series of Fire Risk Assessments, Surveys and Investigation that have confirmed that the external wall cladding contains combustible insulation and there are limited areas of fire breaks that limit the spread of flame in a fire scenario.”
They said they had found combustible insulation bonded to aluminium in panels panels glazed into curtain walling. The panels are difficult to remove and easily damaged as a result of the works and will be replaced.
The building’s owners are applying for money from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Governments Building Safety Fund to pay for the work.
The building affected consists of the high profile 32 storey tower, and a second, lower building, linked City Lofts which faces onto St Paul’s Place.
The report added: “The proposed works are to be carried out using safe construction procedures with the buildings in full occupation throughout.”
The tallest of the two blocks contains 230 flats, while the lower 11 floor block contains 86 flats.
The safety risks associated with flammable panels hit the headlines after the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London, which claimed the lives of 72 people,
The company which owns the building, RMB 102 Limited, told The Star in a statement earlier this year: “We can confirm that a planning application has been submitted for City Lofts on behalf of the Residents’ Management Company, which is responsible for managing remediation at the building.