Historic England\u2019s comment was made in response to an application submitted to Sheffield City Council on 16 September for developer Urban Splash.<\/p>\n
The government heritage body criticised the proposed changes to the building\u2019s fa\u00e7ade, which it said would \u2018fundamentally alter the character\u2019 and remove \u2018key architectural elements\u2019 of the Modernist \u2018crown jewel\u2019. It added that it was \u2018unable to support this application in its current form\u2019.<\/p>\n
The Twentieth Century Society has gone further and said it was objecting to the plans.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The building was listed by then-culture secretary Nadine Dorries in 2022 despite Sheffield City Council\u2019s application for a certificate of immunity from listing (COI)<\/a>. The following year, the council appointed Urban Splash and AHMM<\/a> to redevelop the building.<\/p>\n AHMM says its scheme aims to bring the post-war architectural icon \u2018back to life\u2019, integrating leisure, entertainment, shopping and office space. It includes a new rooftop terrace, which would make that part of the building \u2018accessible for the first time\u2019.<\/p>\n Commenting last month, Historic England said that while it was \u2018supportive of the principle of the regeneration\u2019, it concluded that the changes to the exterior would result in a \u2018high level of less than substantial harm to its significance\u2019.<\/p>\n It continued: \u2018The 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.<\/p>\n \u2018The current proposals are a missed opportunity to celebrate the architectural vision of this listed building, and the city of Sheffield deserves better.\u2019<\/p>\n The heritage body provided pre-application advice on the application, making suggestions which it added had \u2018disappointingly \u2026 not been incorporated\u2019 in the final submission.<\/p>\n It principally objected to the loss of the existing fenestration featuring brown mosaic tile panels.<\/p>\n Although admitting that the current materials required replacement, having reached the end of their life, Historic England argued that the application sought to \u2018greatly redesign\u2019 the exterior form of the building, which would lose the original post-war vision of the site.<\/p>\n The organisation said that it was therefore \u2018encouraging the Planning Authority to negotiate a more sensitive solution for the exterior proposals\u2019.<\/p>\n 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 \u2018key component of the architectural composition\u2019.<\/p>\n The group pushed for a compromise between the current proposals and the existing design, retaining some of the original fa\u00e7ade. It concluded that the \u2018level of harm to a listed building is unnecessary\u2019.<\/p>\n The society told the AJ: \u2018The 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.<\/p>\n \u2018We\u2019re 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.\u2019<\/p>\n Reacting to the concerns, a spokesperson for Urban Splash said: \u2018It\u2019s very normal for there to be commentary on a listed building when the elevation is changed, and a standard part of the consultation process.<\/p>\n \u2018We are very confident that we will find a mutually acceptable solution\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u2018We 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.\u2019<\/p>\n In response to the criticisms, Sheffield Council told the AJ: \u2018The city council recognises the importance of securing a future for this listed building and we are working with the applicant\u2019s team to consider the best response to address comments received from stakeholders, including Historic England.\u2019<\/p>\n\n