Call to de-list and demolish the Park Hill flats

4.37.35pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 29th Sep 2005

Cllr David Baker, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat group

Sheffield's Liberal Democrats are to put a proposal to next weeks meeting of full Council, which could be the first step on the way to de-listing and demolishing the controversial Park Hill complex. Lib Dems will call on the Labour run Council to abandon their regeneration plans and take immediate steps to secure the de-listing of the grade 2* listed 1950's high rise flats.

The dilapidated Park Hill complex was listed by the Labour run Council in 1998, since then it has continued to fall into a state of disrepair. The Council, in partnership with English Heritage, Urban Splash and Manchester Methodist Housing Association, plan to refurbish the buildings and turn the 1000 properties into one third social flats, one third private flats and one third business units.

Although the project was originally due to be funded almost exclusively through the private sector the Council has been forced to commit at least £10m towards the project to make the finances stack-up. The Liberal Democrats are apposed to the redevelopment of the complex as they see the project as a waste of public money and unpopular with local people, they believe the site should be demolished to make way for a development which could fully utilise the prime City centre location.

Although the complex is a grade 2* listed building it can be demolished if it is proved there is no viable alternative to demolition. The Lib Dems believe that this case has already been proved by the Council committing £10m of public money to the project, Lib Dems argue that there is no political will at the Town Hall to move to demolition as Labour are still embarrassed by their move to list the complex back in 1998.

Cllr David Baker, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Sheffield, said: -

"Its time for the ruling Labour group in Sheffield to swallow their pride and take steps to de-list the Park Hill complex which is a blight on our landscape. Labour originally listed the building in 1998, they must now admit they made a mistake and secure demolition"

"The Park Hill refurbishment programme they have put together includes at least £10m of public money which could be used elsewhere in Sheffield. The land that Park Hill occupies must be worth millions to private developers who, if given the chance, could deliver a quality development for Sheffield. All this considered, its clear that demolition is the only acceptable option"

"I believe that the people of Sheffield do not want to see their money spent on a half-baked refurbishment plan for one of the ugliest buildings in Europe. We will be urging the Council to move towards the de-listing of Park Hill before we are lumbered with the eyesore for another 40 years"

Ends

Contact: Lib Dem office on (0114) 2734361

Note to Editor: -

Notice of Motion moved by Cllr Paul Scriven

That this Council: -

(a) believes that the decision to apply to list Park Hill flats was a mistake;

(b) condemns the present administration for committing over £10 million of public money towards the redevelopment of Park Hill flats and notes that this figure could rise substantially;

(c) believes that any redevelopment scheme for Park Hill flats cannot be considered to be acceptable if it requires a large sum of public money and it is not predicated by a report which outlines the potential value of the land which Park Hill flats occupies, if it was to be redeveloped as a brownfield site;

(d) notes that claims from the present administration that the development is for the community of Park Hill are false given that the primary school at Park Hill is closing and that many former tenants of Park Hill will not be permitted to move back once the site has been redeveloped;

(e) believes that, given that it has been proved any scheme to redevelop Park Hill flats would require substantial public monies, demolition of the site is the only acceptable option;

(f) wants to see the Park Hill site developed into a brownfield site for low rise mixed use with an architect competition and extensive consultation with the citizens of Sheffield;

(g) calls on the present administration to recognise demolition and redevelopment as the only acceptable option for Park Hill and begin the process to de-list and demolish the site.