Heritage site could be used for homes

HISTORIC BUILDINGS once owned by a Sheffield steel owner could be transformed into a small housing estate.

Developers want to convert the Grade II- listed Tapton Court and neighbouring buildings on Shore Lane, off Manchester Road, to provide 38 new apartments and houses.

Tapton Court was built in 1868 for the steel manufacturer JH Andrew. It was bought in the 1930s by the JG Graves Trust and given to the Royal Hospital for a nurses’ home in 1934.

In 1978 the nurses’ home closed and the site was transferred to the University of Sheffield for student accommodation.

But in 2010 a serious fire damaged the villa and, while the university repaired the floors and roof, the building has remained empty and is on Sheffield Council’s Buildings At Risk register.

The scheme includes 14 apartments in the main house, 18 apartments in the annexe, built in the 1930s, then four new- build houses in a corner of the site.

Stables would be converted into one house and a gatehouse would also be converted into a single house.

Developers PJ Livesey Holdings say in a planning application: “Demolition should be limited as the existing structures have had very few extensions or external alterations over the years.

“The annexe does harm the setting of the main house and its demolition has been carefully considered however, we are confident that it can be converted to a high standard. This is a much more sustainable and appropriate option than demolishing the annexe.

“The scheme offers a sympathetic and sustainable new use for the heritage assets on the site and preserves and enhances their setting.

“Due to the fire damage, most of the internal features in the main house have been lost except for the main stairs and the stained- glass windows above.”