Heritage body critical of 'five years of delay'

A heritage charity has accused Sheffield City Council of "five years of delay" in protecting Castlegate's historic buildings.

The Victorian Society's South Yorkshire group said hold-ups in making it a conservation area were putting elements of the city's history at "increased risk".

The group's regional chair, Nigel Slack, said the area had lost three buildings in the last year and believed a conservation area's tighter rules would add protection.

Ben Miskell, the councillor in charge of regeneration, said consultants had been appointed last week to review several of the city's conservation areas.

Mr Slack said his charity and other bodies had called for an immediate implementation of extra protections for Castlegate.

He cited the loss of the Market Tavern on Exchange Street, the Old Coroner's Court on Nursery Street and the Haymarket site of what was the Wiley & Co building as reasons for the immediate creation of the conservation area.

He said a proposed area discussed in 2019 could be resurrected.

Mr Slack also criticised a potential move to make Castlegate part of the existing city centre conservation area.

"This is wholly unacceptable as it will weaken the protections in both parts of the city," he said.

"Castlegate is not simply an add-on to the city centre, it is a distinctive part of the city's history and includes a unique architectural and heritage built street scene."

Miskell, chair of the council's transport, regeneration and climate policy committee, said he was "incredibly excited" for the future of Castlegate, which included a new park and the remains of the castle being displayed.

Funding from the government and Historic England had been obtained which would enable the council to update the information it held about a number of the city's conservation areas, he said.

"I'm delighted to confirm that consultants were appointed last week who will begin this work by reviewing the city centre conservation area," he said.

"As part of this work the question of Castlegate becoming an extension of the city centre conservation area will be looked into and with recommendations expected to be made by March 2025.

"If Castlegate is recommended to gain conservation status, we would seek to reach a final decision by summer 2025," he added.

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