Story by Douglas Johnson | Photography by Steve Barnard
The Burngreave Messenger has reported in the past on the historic Lion Works on Spital Hill, which have been in a derelict state for a long time.
The building has become damaged by weather and fire over time. A property developer who bought it in 2002 had let it stand empty for many years.
In February 2014, we reported on the Council making efforts to persuade the owner to do something with it, using financial incentives under its “stuck sites” programme. This allowed the Council to spend £240,000 to make the building weatherproof so it did not deteriorate even more. This may be recovered from the owner in the future.
The owners got planning permission in 2013 for a number of student flats but no further work has been done on this. Instead, the owners are looking at a revised scheme of 30 to 45 flats.
The site was once a factory where many different types of tools were made, including sheep shears and silverware.