Climbing event at city's landmark flats scrapped

Plans had been put forward to erect a climbing wall on the side of Park Hill flats

Plans to build a temporary climbing wall on the side of a landmark block of flats in Sheffield have been scrapped and an associated climbing event axed after opposition from residents.

The "Climbing at the Sky's Edge" event at Park Hill flats was cancelled after concerns were raised about potential damage from fixing the climbing wall to the Grade II*-listed buildings.

According to planning documents, Sheffield City Council had proposed installing the wall for an event due to be held between 9 and 15 September.

Sam Gregory, from Park Hill Residents' Association, said: “We should not be treating one of the city’s most loved and genuinely iconic buildings this badly.”

The planning documents described the proposed event as “a great opportunity for people to engage with the heritage of Park Hill”, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

However, members of the Park Hill Residents’ Association disagreed.

Mr Gregory said the event's organisers "want to drill 250 holes into a Grade II*-listed building for a temporary, one-week event".

"They’re saying these will then be filled in, made good, and that there won’t be any permanent damage to the building," he added.

“But over the past few weeks, they’ve drilled a number of so-called ‘test holes’, and when they’ve filled them in again, residents have witnessed permanent and seemingly irreversible damage to the fabric of this 63-year-old building."

Mr Gregory said residents did not oppose hosting a climbing event at the estate and had suggested the climbing wall could instead be erected using scaffolding in front of the building.

'Support from residents'

In a statement, Sheffield City Council said it had been working with regeneration firm Urban Splash on the proposed event.

However, it added that it had only ever intended to proceed "if it could be carried out while fully protecting and maintaining the Grade II*-listed building, and if there was support for the event from local residents".

"We want to reassure residents of Park Hill that any holes created as part of the testing will be repaired to the highest of standards, and this will be overseen by a conservation officer and the planning service."

In a post on social media, members of the residents’ association said they were pleased the plans had been abandoned.

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