School plan for mansion ruled out over costs

The 18th Century property previously housed the Ruskin Museum from 1890 to 1953

Proposals to renovate a historic building in a Sheffield park have been halted over the "prohibitive" cost of restoration.

Sheffield City Council said it had undertaken a feasibility study to determine whether Meersbrook Hall could be transformed into a special school.

In a letter to the Meersbrook Park Users Trust (MPUT), a council director said the costs of the work were "very high" and would consume most of the city's capital budget for schools.

The trust said the decision was "deeply disappointing" and has urged the authority to find a new purpose for the building and halt its further deterioration over the winter.

The Grade II listed 18th Century mansion was built as a family home before the estate was bought by the then Sheffield Corporation and turned into Meersbrook Park in 1887.

It housed the Ruskin Museum from 1890 to 1953 and then became home to the city's parks and recreation department.

Heeley Trust, a Sheffield-based community organisation, moved into the building in 2016 but plans to use the space as a public facility fell through and the hall was closed.

Joe Horobin, Director of Integrated Commissioning at Sheffield City Council in an update to MPUT said the initial feasibility study had been to "ascertain likely costs of renovation and adaptation to accommodate a special school".

She said it had been about suitability rather than a "further commitment from the possible provider or the council".

"The costs of the work required were very high and would consume most of the capital budget for the city's schools and is felt to be prohibitive," she said.

'Identify options'

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, MPUT trustee Andy Kershaw said: "The fact that the hall is not going to be brought back into productive use is deeply disappointing to us".

He said those who visit the park daily can see the "deterioration of this historic and much-loved building which is facing yet another winter without essential repairs and maintenance".

Mr Kershaw said the group remained opposed to a private sale or any move which would take the hall out of council ownership.

"MPUT has merged with the friends of Meersbrook Hall and we'd like to understand whether there is support for a new specific MPUT Meersbrook Hall Working Group to continue working on trying to identify options for the future of the hall in partnership with the council."

Ms Horobin said the council had been reviewing its approach to community asset management and the "potential for some community buildings to be transferred into community ownership".

The Community Buildings policy is set to be approved "by the end of the year" and would require community organisations to submit a "comprehensive business plan" describing their ability to manage the building.

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