As a city dating back at least 800 years, Sheffield has an incredibly rich and culturally important history. From Sheffield Castle to the industrial revolution right the way up to the modern day, the city has made its mark on the world.
Sheffield City Council is now beginning the process of looking into how that heritage can be preserved, especially around six conservation areas.
The Council has been successful in their bid for skills funding from the Government, with the money being put towards producing Conservation Area Appraisals for the six areas including Kelham Island, City Centre, Ranmoor, Endcliffe, Norton and Oaks Park.
Funding has also been secured from Historic England for corresponding Management Plans supporting the appraisals.
Sheffield’s impact in a variety of areas cannot be overstated and it is vitally important that we are able to preserve our heritage for generations to come to learn about and enjoy. The six conservation areas we are looking into contain several important buildings and looking after them, where appropriate, is crucial but Sheffield’s heritage is more than just a collection of buildings, it is memories, stories, and experiences as well and we are committed to keeping those alive at the same time.Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council
The project is expected to run for 12-18 months and has been split into two phases. Phase one looks at conservation areas including the City Centre and Kelham Island, with phase two taking in Ranmoor, Endcliffe, Norton and Oaks Park.
The plan also includes early listening sessions with key stakeholder, residents and business groups along with evidence gathering. After that Conservation Area Appraisals will be produced including a series of recommendations, that will then go to a public consultation before the management plans go back to the stakeholders with the final step being the adoption of the management plans.
Conservation areas exist to protect the special architectural and historic interest of a place - in other words the features that make it unique and distinctive.
Throughout the process, Sheffield City Council will be working with Historic England.
We're pleased to support Sheffield City Council in this vital work to protect and enhance six of the city's most important conservation areas. Our funding for the management plans will help ensure these historically important places - from the industrial heritage of Kelham Island to the Victorian grandeur of Ranmoor - are well-preserved for future generations. This project demonstrates how local authorities and Historic England can work together effectively to safeguard our shared heritage.
John Lambe, Historic Places Adviser at Historic England
If you are interested in being involved in our listening sessions, you can find out more information by clicking here.