Purpose

The Town Hall has been the democratic heart of
Sheffield for over 125 years and although it has been maintained
and remains structurally sound the building is showing its age.
Members need costed building design options to understand the way
forward for securing the long-term sustainable future of this
much-loved civic building.

Content

10.1

The Executive Director Neighbourhood Services
submitted a report seeking approval from Strategy and Resources
Policy Committee to proceed with the proposed roadmap to a
restored, refurbished and sustainable Town Hall. The Town Hall has
been the democratic heart of Sheffield for over 125 years and
although it has been maintained and remains structurally sound the
building is showing its age. Members need costed building design
options to understand the way forward for securing the long-term
sustainable future of this much-loved civic
building.

 

 

10.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and
Resources Policy Committee:-

 

 

 

(a) agrees to
progress to the next step of developing and delivering a restored
and sustainable Town Hall endorsing;
 
• The
engagement of the internal project delivery team to undertake the
next stage of design work (up to RIBA Stage 2) providing
feasibility options for a one-time cost-effective civic restoration
of the Town Hall
 
• The
development and delivery of a stakeholder engagement plan to define
a shared vision and ensure that any proposal meets the future civic
and public needs of Sheffield;
 
(b) approves the
use of £1.2m allocated from the workplace reserve to fund the
next stage of design work and surveys, up to RIBA stage 2, to be
undertaken by the project delivery team;
 
(c) approves the
use of a further £300k allocated from the workplace reserve
to fund;
 
•
Additional external resources (Client team) on a temporary basis,
to be employed to successfully move the project forward (up to RIBA
Stage 2)
 
• Upcoming
emergency works to continue to secure the safety of occupants and
prevent further partial or full closure of the building;
and
 
(d) agrees to
receive a further report at the completion of RIBA Stage 1 to
update on progress in autumn/winter 2025.

 

 

10.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

10.3.1

The Town Hall
requires significant investment to safeguard the buildings future,
ensuring that it meets the future civic, public and community needs
of the city. Improved information from the feasibility study and
stakeholder engagement will help to inform Member decisions on the
best way forward for meeting our stewardship obligations of this
well-loved, city centre, heritage building.

 

 

10.3.2

Delaying this investment increases the risk of building failures
and non-compliance which could lead to accident, injury, further
floor closures or even building closure. As we continue to move
services into the building from Moorfoot this risk intensifies. In
addition, the longer we delay essential repair and maintenance works the more the building
deteriorates, costing more in the long
term.

 

 

10.3.3

The size, complexity, listed status, and heritage value of the
building make this a challenging and complex project to deliver,
especially along side the demands of
the wider Accommodation Review and corporate need. The funding
model being developed as part of the Accommodation Strategy Review
will provide Members with options to achieve a well maintained, fit
for purpose and financially sustainable Council
estate.

 

 

10.3.4

Across the country Town Halls are being safeguarded for future
generations, we must build on the lessons learned from these
precedents and utilise the information of the previous studies
whilst they remain current and relevant. This is a once in a
lifetime opportunity for asset rationalisation and creating an
integrated city centre community.

 

 

10.4

Alternatives Considered and
Rejected

 

 

10.4.1

Alternative Option 1: Do nothing. This is not a realistic option
because the Town Hall no longer meets the requirements of our
services and communities; without investment this heritage asset
will continue to deteriorate and there is a significant risk that
further parts of the building will be closed ultimately leading to
full building closure. This would have serious impact on the
democratic operations of the council alongside reputational damage
of not undertaking our stewardship obligations for the
building.

 

 

10.4.2

Alternative Option 2: Sell/dispose of asset. Agree that the
Council cannot afford to maintain or undertake the stewardship for
the Town Hall and choose to sell the asset to an organisation that
can secure the buildings long term future. Option discounted on the
basis that;
• The Town Hall is the purpose-built democratic heart of
Sheffield and has continued to be so for over 125 years so should
continue to host the democratic functions.
• The building has significant cultural and heritage value
as one of only five Grade I listed buildings in Sheffield and
therefore the Council’s preference is to retain the
stewardship for this historic, civic
asset.
• The building is also not an attractive commercial offer
for developers with significant repair and maintenance required
alongside restrictions of the listing and spaces designed for
democratic use which limit alternative
uses.

 

 

10.4.3

Alternative Option 3: Feasibility study looking only at the
essential compliance and maintenance works. It is not cost
effective to undertake a feasibility study that is restricted to
essential compliance and maintenance works and then later explore
how the building can better meet the current and future needs of
the building users. The building is no longer fit for purpose with
redundant, dilapidated and underutilised spaces, outdated services
and facilities - we must secure the future of the building through
looking at the buildings future holistically which means looking at
essential compliance and maintenance alongside the civic building
use and transformative works, futureproofing this historic, civic
asset.

 

 

10.4.4

Alternative Option 4: A feasibility study that
also includes alternative uses for the building. The 2018 study
concluded that the Town Hall should prioritise enhancing civic and
community functions over hotel or commercial use. Hotel use was
dismissed due to access difficulties, the unsuitability of existing
accommodations for hotel operations, and the lack of commercial
appeal for hotel operators, given the substantial investment and
high operational costs associated with a Grade I listed building.
Commercial office rentals were also ruled out, favouring the
relocation of council staff to the Town Hall while seeking other
sites for commercial leases. We must build on this informative
piece of work and move forward with the next stage of design
looking at how the building can meet the future civic and public
needs of Sheffield.