Big decision next week on new uses for Sheffield Cole Brothers building
The much-loved building on Barkers Pool could become a multi-use space combining shops, eating places and offices.
Plans to redevelop the old Cole Brothers department store in Sheffield city centre into a multi-use space complete with a rooftop terrace are set to take a major step forward next week.
The much-loved building on Barkers Pool is proposed to become a versatile multi-use space combining shops, eating places and offices.
Developers Urban Splash aim to keep the building interior design as flexible as they can to appeal to as many investors as possible. Planning permission will be sought from Sheffield city Council’s plnning and highways committee next Tuesday (March 10).
The Modernist-style store, which is Grade II listed, opened in 1963 and was closed by the John Lewis Partnership in 2021 during the Covd lockdown, causing a big outcry from around the city.
The front of the building was adorned with goodbye notes from sad customers and staff.
A report to the committee said: “The building’s apparent simplicity reflects a high level of architectural skill, planning and ambition.
“As part of Sheffield’s distinguished mid-20th-century architectural heritage, the store contributed significantly to the city’s post-war commercial optimism.”
Regeneration works on the building have taken place as part of the Heart of the City 2 regeneration scheme. It sits in the centre of the area.
Objections had been voiced to proposed changes to the building exterior by the Twentieth Century Society, Hallamshire Historic Buildings, Sheffield Conservation Advisory Group and Historic England.
These included opposition to removing brown mossaic panels and setting back the windows to the Barkers Pool frontage.
Special listed building permission is required before any scheme can go ahead.
City ward councillors Green Douglas Johnson, Ruth Mersereau and Martin Phipps also broadly supported the “exciting” project but objected to the car park being reopened. Burgess House Residents Association and Friends of the Sheffield City Centre made similar objections.
The proposals put forward would reduce the number of parking spaces from 480 to 190, with 10% of spaces having EV charging points. There would also be 72 secure cycle parking spaces and 34 visitor spaces.
Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts originally thought the building should be demolished but changed his mind and hoped the project would move forward quickly.
Following a second round of consultations and amendments to the plans, th committee report said that only Historic England commented.
It thought that some of its concerns had been alleviated.
A report to the committee said: “The emphasis is on providing as much flexibility as possible to attract future occupiers, but that can support a range of commercial, office, cultural and leisure uses.
“There are individual units and parts of the building which lend themselves to
different uses. The ground floor, which contains the large shop front/display units, is… likely to be retail of food and beverage with separate entrances on to Cambridge Street and Parkers Pool.
“The upper floors with their large, open nature are likely to be attractive to office use.
“At this stage, it is envisaged that the existing rooftop plant room which is now
empty and void of any equipment, will have a change of use into food or drink with an external terrace.
“This will allow members of the public to access the roof of the building through a separate entrance off Cambridge Street and be independent to
the lower floors below.”
Areas of the the basement and lower ground floor could also be used.