Sheffield City Block
A number of buildings to be replaced by a single development:
https://planningapps.sheffield.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=PCTNI9NYLVO00
I wasn’t sure whether to create this post, as the proposed development is actually very good, demonstrating an active frontage and strong elevations. However, my issue is with the massing of the development; it has completely ignored the urban grain of the buildings it looks to replace.
The site is currently occupied by 9 different buildings providing variety and rhythm along the street front. This configuration will have evolved from the medieval period to arrive at this complexity of built form.
Due to land assembly, the milieu of buildings will be replaced with one monolithic building, demonstrating no variation of detailing along the street front. This is seen throughout provincial cities. Land assembly is damaging to the preservation of urban grain. Scale is everything, and plot shapes and sizes should be in of themselves seen as heritage assets.
St Marys School, Batley
Old School Buildings to be demolished in Batley:
The school building annexes to a grade II listed church and a second convent building is also part of the application and appears to be an attractive well ordered house.
An indicative scheme for residential conversion was prepared when marketing the property, so retaining and reusing the buildings is viable, and would offer a much better setting for the listed asset.
The embedded carbon in the buildings must be very high, and it would be a shame to see it all gone to waste as the site is cleared. Sadly this is still not a consideration in planning decisions.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is the mantra attached to the use of plastics. Why not for buildings too?
Old Packhorse Inn, Hartshead Moor
Pub; usual story:
A fundamental port on the Westgate Wobble pub crawl, the Old Pack Horse has been closed for a few years now, and although a robust and attractive building, the developer sees no value in this and wants to get 5 houses on here.
Sadly much of the building is only 1 story, however, the 2 story portion of the building could certainly be integrated into a development.
And just like that, you’ve managed to capture a piece of history in perpetuity.
Interestingly, the New Pack Horse pub is just over the road. There is definitely something very Yorkshire about this perfunctory pub naming. Without both pubs present, the irony is lost. And irony theft is criminal around these parts.
The Demolition Register 