Decision on controversial new food hall on Sheffield's Ecclesall Road delayed

Inventive Service Company wants to transform the vacant and derelict Gothic style Sunday school building at 605 Ecclesall Road into new food hall Founders and Co.

Plans follow the success of Kommune, Cutlery Works and Sheffield Plate in other parts of the city and the company’s current venue in Swansea.

The council was today due to decide whether to grant a licence for the Ecclesall Road site allowing operators to run it as a restaurant, bar and local business hub from 7am until 1.30am, every day.

But all three Broomhill and Sharrow Vale councillors, 17 nearby residents and the health and environmental protection services objected to the licensing application.

Concerns were raised about noise nuisance with residents asking for the opening hours to be reduced, parking problems and there being a “surplus” of food and drink businesses in the area already.

Local councillor Brian Holmshaw said there was a long-established 11.30pm planning curfew in the Ecclesall Road and Sharrow Vale area and he hopes the deferral will allow more time to consult with the community.

He said: “We now hope the applicants have the opportunity to properly consult local residents and it would not be unreasonable to expect that licensing hours are reduced in line with the many objections from local people.

“[We, local councillors,] welcome this site being brought back into use, but we have strong concerns over late night noise and disturbance in this established residential area.

“We really welcome that Founders and Co have brought this building back into use but they need to balance their business priorities with being a good neighbour to the surrounding community.

“To try and avoid creating worry for residents we encourage licensing officers to make it clear to future applicants that 11.30pm closure is a minimum licensing condition in and around the area.”

Besides objections, there were two letters of support.

Charlotte Whittaker and Richard Howard said: “As local residents we feel that this venture would be a fantastic opportunity for the area.

“Growing up in Sheffield in the late 1990s/ early 2000s, I can only ever remember this church in an abandoned condition. The plans put forward would resurrect a derelict and unsightly building.”