Council rejects bid to demolish part of venue

The report describes the request as "purposeless"

A planning application to demolish parts of Sheffield's Leadmill music venue has been rejected by the city council.

Phillip Mills, director of The Leadmill Ltd, stated in planning documents that demolishing a toilet block and infill works bordering Suffolk Road would "return the building to pre-leasing condition".

The officer who recommended the proposed demolition be rejected described it as "purposeless" and without public benefit.

The building's landlord, Electric Group, has been in dispute with its tenants since it served an eviction notice in 2022, planning to run the business itself.

'No appreciable public benefits'

Mr Mills previously said he would "gut" the venue if forced to leave.

Breaking up the continuous building frontage would be "to the detriment of the strength and character of the building line", the planning officer's report stated.

It said: "In the event [the applicant's] lease is terminated, they wish to return the building complex to the condition it was in prior to the lease being taken up.

"In this instance the proposal will result in the loss of facilities for a music venue/nightclub with no appreciable public benefits.

"Essentially the demolition seems purposeless."

Without sufficient benefits and justification, the "less than substantial" harm caused would not be acceptable, it added.

MVL Properties, owned by Electric Group, had filed a counter application in the event that the demolition did take place, which was also rejected.

The Leadmill Ltd has been contacted for comment.

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