Historic England’s comment was made in response to an application submitted to Sheffield City Council on 16 September for developer Urban Splash.
The government heritage body criticised the proposed changes to the building’s façade, which it said would ‘fundamentally alter the character’ and remove ‘key architectural elements’ of the Modernist ‘crown jewel’. It added that it was ‘unable to support this application in its current form’.
The Twentieth Century Society has gone further and said it was objecting to the plans.
The 1963 building, designed by YRM, was originally the flagship department store for retail company Cole Brothers. In 2002, it became a branch of John Lewis, but it closed in 2021.
The building was listed by then-culture secretary Nadine Dorries in 2022 despite Sheffield City Council’s application for a certificate of immunity from listing (COI). The following year, the council appointed Urban Splash and AHMM to redevelop the building.
AHMM says its scheme aims to bring the post-war architectural icon ‘back to life’, integrating leisure, entertainment, shopping and office space. It includes a new rooftop terrace, which would make that part of the building ‘accessible for the first time’.
Commenting last month, Historic England said that while it was ‘supportive of the principle of the regeneration’, it concluded that the changes to the exterior would result in a ‘high level of less than substantial harm to its significance’.
It continued: ‘The proposals alter its elevations by removing its carefully designed post-war vision, and are not compatible with conserving or enhancing a key part of this nationally important listed building.
‘The current proposals are a missed opportunity to celebrate the architectural vision of this listed building, and the city of Sheffield deserves better.’
The heritage body provided pre-application advice on the application, making suggestions which it added had ‘disappointingly … not been incorporated’ in the final submission.
It principally objected to the loss of the existing fenestration featuring brown mosaic tile panels.
Although admitting that the current materials required replacement, having reached the end of their life, Historic England argued that the application sought to ‘greatly redesign’ the exterior form of the building, which would lose the original post-war vision of the site.
The organisation said that it was therefore ‘encouraging the Planning Authority to negotiate a more sensitive solution for the exterior proposals’.
These views have been echoed by the Twentieth Century Society, which lodged an objection on 28 October, also pointing to the layout of the windows and mosaic panels as a ‘key component of the architectural composition’.
The group pushed for a compromise between the current proposals and the existing design, retaining some of the original façade. It concluded that the ‘level of harm to a listed building is unnecessary’.
The society told the AJ: ‘The loss of original mosaic panels and the introduction of radically different glazing will significantly alter the principal elevation, fundamentally changing the character of the building.
‘We’re calling on Urban Splash and AHMM to rethink this particular element of the design, so we can all get behind the scheme and see this fabulous building back in business.’
Reacting to the concerns, a spokesperson for Urban Splash said: ‘It’s very normal for there to be commentary on a listed building when the elevation is changed, and a standard part of the consultation process.
‘We are very confident that we will find a mutually acceptable solution’
‘We have a very good, longstanding relationship with Sheffield City Council and Historic England, and we are very confident that we will find a mutually acceptable solution for the reinvention of this iconic and beautiful place.’
In response to the criticisms, Sheffield Council told the AJ: ‘The city council recognises the importance of securing a future for this listed building and we are working with the applicant’s team to consider the best response to address comments received from stakeholders, including Historic England.’
When the scheme was submitted, Urban Splash regeneration director Mark Latham said: ‘The planning submission for Cole Brothers reflects our commitment to reviving this cherished building, honouring the past while developing both an inspiring and functional space to meet, connect, innovate and thrive within the city centre’s community and urban landscape.’
Announcing plans to redevelop the site in 2023, Urban Splash said it had been working with the council to bring the building back to life as part of the council’s Heart of the City project, a substantial redesign of the surrounding area in which ‘Cole Brothers will play a central role’.
AHMM said that the building was now ‘showing clear signs of physical decline’ and ‘many elements of the structure and envelope [were] either approaching or exceeding their serviceable life’.
Under its proposals, the lower floors will house shops and hospitality, while the upper floors will become office space.
However, planning documents state that Urban Splash ‘cannot and don’t want to commit to specific uses or users yet’, and that the final outcome will be subject to upcoming conversations with potential operators and partners.
AHMM declined to comment on the comments from Historic England and Twentieth Century Society.
Since 2023, the building has been used as an events space for the local community, including hosting the Crossed Wires podcast festival.
When the project was initially submitted for planning, Urban Splash said it intended to start work on site as soon as it could, planning to begin work on the ground floors first before then moving on to the upper floors and basement.
Project data
Location Barker’s Pool, Sheffield
Local authority Sheffield City Council
Project type Mixed-use commercial and office
Architect AHMM
Developer Urban Splash
Planning advisor Made It Together
Heritage consultant Purcell
Structural engineering Booth King
Mechanical and electrical engineering Beechfield Consulting Engineers
Fire engineering Jensen Hughes
GEA 24,419m2
Planning reference 25/02741/LBC