Council’s leadership on heritage ‘will be looked on as watershed’

STEPS BY Sheffield Council towards enhancing heritage could be seen as a “watershed” moment for the city, an expert has suggested.

Robin Hughes, of Joined Up Heritage Sheffield, said this included voting to explore ways of using it to support businesses in their recovery from Covid-19 and designating it as a responsibility for one of the new council committees.

On the latter, he said: “It may be the first time that any Sheffield Council constitution has defined responsibility for the city’s rich, diverse heritage.”

He added “where there is leadership on heritage, the city is taken seriously”, but more work was still needed.

Historic England research showed the sector contributes £36.6bn to the English economy, which is more than arts and culture, aerospace or defence. Sheffield’s share is estimated to be £240m a year.

Mr Hughes said: “About half of (heritage’s contribution to the economy) is in the construction industry. Heritage skills will be critical to re-using and retrofitting buildings, an urgent priority according to the House of Commons

Environmental Audit Committee.

“Add to this the attraction of historic buildings for the most creative and productive businesses, and spending by visitors who come for heritage but also need hotels and hospitality.

“That’s without mentioning how heritage improves health and wellbeing; the pandemic was a physical and emotional hammerblow, too.

“Will this be the moment we look back on as a watershed in heritage policy?

“Maybe, but it’s only the end of the beginning. The real work begins now.”

The transport, regeneration and climate change policy committee is responsible for leading on heritage, alongside a heritage champion.

New councillor Janet Ridler, representative for Stocksbridge and Upper Don, will take over the position from long-standing councillor Mike Drabble, representative for Richmond.

Coun Ridler has lived in Sheffield

all of her life and coordinates Sheffield’s Heritage Open Days festival as a trustee of Sheffield Civic Trust.

Speaking about the appointment, Mr Hughes said: “Coun Mike Drabble – heritage’s hero behind the council scenes, bending ears and twisting arms – is stepping down as heritage champion.

“His successor, newly elected Coun Janet Ridler, is well-known and much respected in the heritage community. Joined Up Heritage Sheffield argued that the role needed a ‘critical friend’ to the council, unafraid to speak truth to power, and they have listened.

“It would have been easy to bury the champion’s role, with no clear, independent voice for heritage. In Janet, we will keep that voice.”

The news comes after it was revealed a £12.8m music centre for 400 children in a restored heritage building in Sheffield is set to inspire a new generation of songwriters. Harmony Works, in Canada House on Commercial Street, will be rocking to the sounds of youngsters from all over the city practising, composing and performing potential hits.

The hugely ambitious project will see the five-storey Grade II*listed city centre building extended, to create a new permanent home for the city’s musical talent.

It’s only the end of the beginning. The real work begins now. Robin Hughes, of Joined Up Heritage Sheffield.