City lofts St Paul’s tower cladding design row

20 11 2008

Standing your ground

You’ll have no doubt read about the current disagreement over the panels used on the outside of the City lofts St Paul’s tower development in town. In a nutshell, the council agreed a certain specification of cladding, which the developer then changed.

The council has stood firm and now crisis talks are taking place between both parties with the hope of resolving the issue. You can read the detail of the saga unfolding in the 196-page thread in the Sheffield Development Forum.

I was passing the development this week with my camera so took some photos which are below.

Despite it being a brilliant sunny day, the brown panels still looked a bit dingy. And as someone also pointed out in the discussion thread, if this is them at their best, how many clear sunny days will we get in Sheffield to see them like this?

Even with the sun directly reflecting off the side of the building, as shown in the bottom photo, it still has a dated look to me and reminds me a bit of a 70s London building that I used to work in and is about to be ripped down.

What do people think, should the council continue to stand its ground and demand an improved design, risking that the tower is left to stand empty or even be demolished?

cladding1

cladding2

City lofts St Paul's tower cladding


Comments : 3 Comments »
Tags : , , , , ,
Categories : architecture, council, design, development, environment, photos, planning, regeneration, sheffield

New Brooklyn bridge in Sheffield

14 11 2008

A bridge too far - for now

Last year a scheme was approved by councillors to build a replica of the world-famous Brooklyn bridge across the River Don in Sheffield. It was in recognition the city’s links with the Brooklyn bridge in New York, as apparently Sheffield steel manufacturer Andrews Toledo supplied the high-quality crucible steel used for its main hangers.

With most of the funding for the replica in place, all was progressing well until the catastrophic floods of June last year bought the project to a standstill.

I got in touch with Sheffield Industrial Museums Trust to find out the latest. Following the floods, the Environment Agency had to re-assess the river and has recently removed 8,000 tons of rubble and soil from around the weir and Kelham Island itself.

At the moment a new flood wall protection around Kelham is being designed and is scheduled to be built next year. This will affect the bridge design and so the two will have to be integrated, with the wall being built first.

We are reassured that there is is still strong support for the bridge, and in the meantime the funds set aside for the scheme have been invested in a high interest account with the council.

I really hope this project is realised before long. As the background story illustrates, the building of the New York Brooklyn bridge is a poignant and romantic tale, and you can’t help but think that the completion of the replica bridge - after the problems of its own - would be a fitting tribute to its inspirational and beautiful big sister over the pond.

Brooklyn bridge, New York

'Sunset on the Brooklyn Bridge'

Image by wenzday01 and used under Creative Commons license


Comments : 3 Comments »
Tags : , , , , , , , ,
Categories : architecture, council, development, environment, planning, sheffield, walking

Sign the station gates petition

2 09 2008

Keep Sheffield Midland station open access for all

The debate about East Midlands Trains (EMT) and their plan to block public access through the station rumbles on.

It seems ridiculous to me that they should consider this proposal considering that it is a key pedestrian route into the city centre from the Park Hill side. Not to mention the fact that it would also stop all Sheffielders greeting people all trains on the platform.

If you haven’t already, then it may help to sign this petition and give your view.

Image by pauldcocker and used under Creative Commons license


Comments : No Comments »
Tags : , , , , ,
Categories : council, sheffield, transport, walking

Ten ways to improve Sheffield (part one)

1 07 2008

Part one of a two part post, identifying ways that the city can be improved. Here are numbers one to five (not in any order)

Sort out the traffic congestion
 Is traffic congestion in Sheffield really that bad? According to this report Sheffield traffic is in the top 10 slowest-moving in the UK. If South Yorkshire is looking to further develop its economy by attracting business investment on an international level and also ensuring that its potential as a tourist destination is fulfilled, the road infrastructure must improve. As part of this, the problem of car access around the station must also be addressed, as the good impression visitors get from Sheaf square is soon forgotten once you are embroiled in the gridlock on the way out.

Focus on the city’s digital strategy
City leaders are recognising the importance of developing Sheffield’s digital and creative industries with the development of the Digital Campus, but the strategy needs to be more wide-ranging than this. We need to work further to encourage residents, businesses and community groups to embrace the technologies on offer in order to create a digitally-literate population. In Birmingham, a Get into digital festival took place in June as part of the Digital Birmingham initiative, aiming to “help make the transition from an industrial city to a digital one by driving forward the use of these technologies in order to increase prosperity, knowledge and quality of life of its citizens.” This is definitely something to Sheffield to consider…can we afford not to?

Grow the city centre as an after-work destination
The council has been working hard at promoting Wednesday night live in the city centre. It has recognised a need for the city centre to become a viable option for post-work and evening recreation. For too long, Sheffield has become a ghost town after the shoppers and workers have gone home, with people not feeling compelled to stay in the city centre. There is potential for expanding the after-work economy, but it needs the support of Sheffield citizens, not just the local authority and businesses.

Attract more quality restaurants to the city centre
Every week in the Sheffield Telegraph I enjoy seeing what the interviewee in the Food For Thought Q&A column says in answer to the ‘What do you think of Sheffield as a place to eat out?’ question. The most positive answer seems to be that Sheffield’s restaurant scene is improving but few people have much to shout about. There are good restaurants across the region but many of these in the suburbs or out in Derbyshire, and for every highly-rated one that opens, another closes. A limited number of chain restaurants is acceptable, but Sheffield also needs more high quality restaurants in the city centre, particularly ones that stay open late to cater, for example, for the post-theatre/gig/concert crowds. Which brings me onto…

Introduce a night bus services on key routes
If the evening/night economy were to expand then would it be worth trialling a night bus service? Currently, many routes finish around 11pm, and with town pubs now generally open later than this, I think there would be a demand for buses every half hour on key services out of the city throughout the night. The impact on Sheffield taxi drivers would need to be carefully assessed, but it would certainly help the queues and scramble for cabs in the early hours of the morning when demand outstrips supply.

Parts 6-10


Comments : No Comments »
Tags : , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Categories : arts, bands, council, development, digital industries, food, live, music, promotions, regeneration, restaurants, sheffield, technology, transport

Victoria quays and the Sheffield city centre masterplan

17 04 2008

An updated version of the masterplan details plans for how one redeveloped but undervalued corner of the city may finally be properly integrated with Sheffield city centre

The other day I downloaded a copy of the Sheffield city centre masterplan executive summary (1.5Mb, PDF) - the full 122-page, 3.2Mb PDF is also available if you fancy some hefty bedtime reading.

It begins by looking at what has been achieved since the original masterplan was unveiled in 2000, which by all accounts is impressive. In the last 10 years, parts of the city centre have changed almost unrecognisably, with the creation of several world-class urban spaces of which Sheffielders can be proud.

As the updated masterplan recognises, there is still plenty to do though. One of the projects that caught my eye was the continuing plans for the Victoria quays canal basin area.

From 1992–1994, this area was redeveloped, with warehouses restored, offices built and a marina created on one side of the basin. Shops, pubs, restaurants and hotels set up business and a number of residential developments have also since been located there.

The problem is, although the regeneration of Victoria quays is impressive, hardly anyone I know actually bothers to go down there. Other cities such as Newcastle, Liverpool and even Salford have redeveloped their quay sides to create leisure destinations for the day and night, but for some reason Sheffield’s canal basin has never properly caught on as a place to spend significant time and money.

I think one issue is the perceived distance of Victoria quays from the city centre. Although not actually that far, unless you shop in the markets area, the canal basin doesn’t really appear on your radar. Plus of course it is on the other side of Park square roundabout, which doesn’t help.

The good news is that with the new masterplan, it looks like planners in the city are recognising the importance of integrating this waterside area with the centre of town. It is proposed that a new pedestrian spine route will connect Victoria quays and Fargate to form part of a “new pedestrian axis” through the city centre.

What’s more, a new destination is to be created, which will include Victoria Square, a park around the ruins of Sheffield castle, contemporary architecture and existing heritage buildings.

All this bodes well and suggests that Victoria quays may yet become a place that is no longer considered too far out of the way for people to visit, and one that contributes further to the regeneration of the city.

Map of proposed Victoria Quays/Castlegate development, Sheffield


Comments : No Comments »
Tags : , , , , , , , ,
Categories : city centre masterplan, council, development, drink, pubs, regeneration, restaurants, sheffield

The two towers and the two Toms

3 04 2008

As the date of demolition draws nearer, the lead pro-towers campaigners have pulled out of discussions regarding replacement exhibit

Yesterday’s Guardian featured article about the impending demolition of the cooling towers and the story behind the campaign to save them.

I hadn’t realised that Eon had agreed to host a temporary installation inside the towers by Turner prize winning artist Anish Kapoor before U-turning on this decision in favour of the permanent replacement work of art. This was a further blow that understandably left Cooling the Towers campaigners Tom Keeley and Tom James feeling tired and disappointed.

The debate continues over what exactly the replacement work of art might be and whether the council is capable of collaborating on something worthy to sit in place of the towers. I think the planning department has certainly delivered some stunning public spaces in the city centre, and elements of these (for example the cutting edge in Sheaf square and the spheres near the Winter gardens) could also be classed as art.

Obviously the replacement project for the Tinsley towers needs to be something on a much larger scale than these flashes of artistic inspiration in the city centre, so delivering this will be a massive challenge that needs everyone on board.

I can understand the frustration that the two Toms are feeling over their project, but it seems a shame they have pulled out of the planning process for the replacement exhibit. Described by the council as “instrumental and inspirational”, surely their involvement would give us the greatest chance to fully unlock the potential of the location and be left with a relic that captures at least a small part of their original vision?

Tom and Tom: your city needs you - please get involved again!


Comments : No Comments »
Tags : , , , , , , , , , ,
Categories : architecture, cooling towers, council, development, planning, regeneration, sheffield

City of Sheffield city centre walkabout (walkabout)

19 03 2008

Exploring the city centre, 1970s style

A few months ago I was given a fantastic item that had been found on eBay - a copy of the early-1970s City of Sheffield city centre walkabout walkabout book (I think the double walkabout in the title is actually a stylistic design feature on the cover).

This publication (rrp 25p) was produced by what I assume was the council marketing department in those days, the quaintly-named Sheffield City Promotions Committee. On the inside front cover, they write:

The aim of this publication is to act as a guide to visitors for a walking tour of the Central Area of Sheffield. The tour, which takes just over an hour at a leisurely walking pace, is intended to show both civic and other important buildings and landmarks, not only of yesteryear, but also some of the more modern counterparts of recent times. At the same time, it is hoped to show some of the Sheffield’s character in its local environment, brought about by the effects of ambitious building schemes and town planning since 1945 together with the clean air legislation in 1972 which led to Sheffield’s claim as being ‘the cleanest industrial city in Europe‘.

Reading the brochure I can’t help but think of the ‘City on the move’ film that opened The Full Monty, as the tone really lends itself to being read in a received pronunciation public service-style voice.

I’m sure copies of this publication from ‘yesteryear’ are quite scarce now, so I’ve pulled together my favourite quotes here:

City of Sheffield city centre walkaboutTown hall extension “This effect, together with leaded roofing are (sic) intended to blend two contrasting styles of building”

Crucible theatre “several television spectaculars have taken place here”

Shopping “Sheffield now has more departmental stores than any other city north of London”

Fargate “A quiet resting place for the weary visitor”

Chapel Walk “has more than a hint of a cosmopolitan atmosphere”

Dove and Rainbow pub “where you are more than likely to hear the chatter of journalists, reporters and other media people during weekday lunchbreaks”

Parkway “It is now possible to drive to either London or Newcastle in under three hours via the motorway network direct from that point”

Ramp near Castle Square “Castle Square’s function as a traffic roundabout can best be viewed from this point” - this view is obviously one not to miss!


Comments : 2 Comments »
Tags : , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Categories : council, environment, history, promotions, pubs, sheffield, walking