Town Hall restoration project may cost up to £450m

Sheffield City Council spends about £700,000 a year on essential repairs for the Town Hall

Plans to restore and repair Sheffield Town Hall could cost up to £450m, according to the city council.

The Grade I listed building was opened by Queen Victoria in 1897 and it is currently costing Sheffield City Council £700,000 a year in essential maintenance and repair works.

Senior councillors are to look at plans for a major restoration of the landmark, which would be funded through borrowing and other sources such as income from events and heritage grants.

Janet Ridler, the council's heritage champion, said the work would ensure the building remained "at the very heart of Sheffield life for decades to come".

Funding discussions have been taking place between the council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund and money would also be secured by selling off other properties from the council estate, a spokesperson for the authority said.

A restoration project could be more cost-effective for the council in the long term, a report produced for the authority's strategy and resources committee argued.

The report said the work would make better use of the building for the people of Sheffield.

Councillors will be told a restoration project could cost between £340m and £450m

In 2022, urgent work was carried out on the building after the council found there were serious risks for fire safety, legionella from water supplies, no ventilation in the council chamber and leaks from a large old diesel tank.

An initial feasibility study in 2022 found the potential cost of restoration and safety works could range from £20m to £50m.

If senior councillors approve the proposals to explore a restoration project at a meeting on 10 December, the scheme will move to the next stage when a roadmap would be produced to show how the Town Hall would be restored.

In May, architects were appointed to carry out an initial fact-finding study to explore and understand the Town Hall's history and current condition.

Tom Hunt, leader of Sheffield City Council, said: "The Town Hall is at the heart of Sheffield's democracy and public life and has a unique place in the life of our city.

"This is a significant opportunity to make the building fit for the next century – more sustainable, more open to the community, and keeping it at the heart of our local democracy.

"The restoration of the Town Hall will be an investment for the future of the building but also of the city centre, continuing the fantastic regeneration we have already seen taking shape."

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North