While plans for a skyscraper for Spital Hill are far from reality, other redevelopments are just around the corner.
Work has already started on the Vestry Hall; New Deal has committed funds to refurbish Sorby House and Woodside continues to be discussed. Burngreave Community Action Forum’s next meeting on 18th March will focus on these coming changes.
Woodside
Ownership
Sheffield City Council owns the land and while New Deal has invested £930,000 into Woodside, it’s still unclear what this has bought them although it did speed up demolition. The Council have decided to sell the land to developers for housing, but the value is still unknown.
Cost
The private sector developer who buys the land will have to fund the redevelopment. No planning permission has been granted as yet.
Plans
The Masterplan, produced by the Council, suggests 150 and 250 housing units will be built to appeal to existing Burngreave residents as well as attract future residents. There would be a mixture of housing built for sale on the open market: housing for rent from a housing association and low cost home ownership. A hilltop square will incorporate the refurbished Pye Bank School, to be converted to residential use. It is undecided how much green space will be retained or how many homes will be housing association and ‘low cost’.
The Council will be employing an ‘enabler’ to assess ideas and proposals from: the Project Group; New Deal; the Masterplan, and other agencies and feed them into the Market Brief for the developer.
Vestry Hall
Ownership
Still owned by the Duke of Norfolk, New Deal has bought a 30- year lease from the Council for £1.
Cost
New Deal plan to spend £3 million on the refurbishment.
Plans:
To be made into a Community Learning Centre, but will include a large hall for events. For more information see page 14. Local photographers Richard Hanson and Anwar Suliman have been commissioned to document the renovation of the Vestry Hall, which will be recorded at www.vestryhall.co.uk. If you used the hall before it became derelict and want to share your memories, follow the links on the site.
Sorby House
Ownership:
Bought by New Deal from the Council for £686,600.
Cost:
Refurbishment is estimated to cost £3–4 million pounds of New Deal money. Costs uncertain until a contractor is taken on.
Plans:
To host 80% commercial offices and 20% community offices. From the profit on the rent, about £23,000 is needed to fund part of the running costs of the Vestry Hall. Proposals include meeting rooms for hire, information sections and public toilets, but plans are being revised following a requirement for contracts to be advertised Europe-wide and revisions are not yet public. Ideas for Sorby House last went out to consultation in 2003.
Public Realm
(Public areas of Spital Hill for example footpaths and Ellesmere Green.)
Ownership:
Sheffield City Council.
Cost:
New Deal had hoped to spend money on this but uncertainty regarding Sorby House means most of it is on hold. If no funding is found, work could be done by the Council who are working on making the Masterplan ideas happen.
Plans:
The only definite work at the moment is around the Vestry Hall where Grimesthorpe Road will be closed and the pavement around the Vestry extended. Work has started to develop the art works for Spital Hill, Sorby House and Vestry Hall, through Sheffield gallery owner, Karen Sherwood, who wants to involve residents in the process. She can be contacted on 285 2665, see inserted postcard for more information.
