New Sheffield city centre development will be as "dramatic and as loved as Winter Garden"
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Councillors unanimously approved the latest Heart of the City 2 scheme which will see a communal hall, shops, cafe, bar plus flexible space for events, studios and businesses created on Cambridge Street, Wellington Street and Backfields.
The site lies within the city centre conservation area and includes the former Albert Works, the former George Binns outfitters, Bethel Chapel and former Sunday School, Sheffield Arts Centre, DINA, Henry’s Corner, Henry’s Two and Brew House.
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Hide AdThe Bethel Sunday School is grade 2 listed and nearby is the grade 2* listed Leah’s Yard and the grade 2 listed St Matthew’s Parish Church.
Cambridge Street was once Coalpit Lane, an ancient route in and out of Sheffield, and was the centre ofhe trade in materials for knife handles.
Leah's Yard started life as the Coalpit Lane Horn Works and bone fragments were often found when digging the street surface.
Robin Hughes of Hallamshire Historic Buildings gave the planning committee and insight into the site's heritage.
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Hide Ad"Its buildings tell 130 years of Sheffield's history. Cities will only prosper if they understand the economics of uniqueness.
"It is the individual character of a place with its own story to tell that will bring new residents, visitors, students and investors. For much of the last 20 years, the proposal has been to forget that story, and tear down the buildings of this ancient street. Now they are seen as assets, to be repurposed."
Mr Hughes said the development would make Sheffield an even more desirable destination.
"The proposed communal hall has the potential to become as dramatic and well-loved a space as the Winter Garden.
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Hide Ad"I shall be sorry to lose the last surviving fragment of Albert Works, built in 1891. Before then, its mysterious undated stone bearing the Cutlers' arms and the initials LJS was displayed for several decades on Linley's sheep shear works, on the same site.
"It has probably been in more or less the same position for around 300 years, and it is only right that it will be preserved there.