Green councillors have welcomed the news that Sheffield City Council has passed the Heritage Strategy for Sheffield report (1), some 12 months after it was endorsed by Full Council. It’s a triple success for Green councillors.
Sheffield Green Party have long called for the adoption of Joined Up Heritage Sheffield’s Heritage Strategy, our city’s very own grass-roots, inclusive strategy for buildings, people and culture. This will now become a core aspect of the City Council’s future policies and procedures.
Two other long-term Green Party initiatives were also agreed by the Strategy and Resources committee – the creation of a Sheffield City Council Heritage Officer post, and enhanced support and funding for our city’s many Conservation Areas.
Broomhill and Sharrow Vale Green Party Councillor Brian Holmshaw, a founder member of Joined Up Heritage Sheffield said,
“As a long term supporter of the city’s heritage, I’m overjoyed to see that we’ve finally recognised the central economic and social role that heritage plays in the city. I hope that placing it at the centre of city policies will help to stop some of the terrible decision-making that the council has made over the years. The recent debacle over the Market Tavern in the projected Castlegate Conservation Area, demonstrates this.
“Retrofitting old buildings to a high environmental and conservation standard should always be the default position, so that we can continue to celebrate Sheffield’s buildings, its people and its stories into the future.
“I look forward to the city council working more closely with the city’s key heritage stakeholders, with climate change-minded architects and with heritage professionals to improve how Sheffield looks and feels, both to its residents, and to visitors to the city.”
Cllr Henry Nottage, Green Party spokesperson on the Economic Development and Skills Committee said:
“Historic England estimated that, in 2022, England’s heritage sector directly contributed between £15.8 and £17.5 billion to the national economy. Sheffield needs to be building on that success and getting its fair share of the heritage bonus. Putting in place a ‘dedicated heritage officer post in the city will help to do just that.
“Investing in the preservation, refitting and ongoing use of heritage buildings and other historic places has huge economic benefits for individuals and communities. Protecting conservation areas can lead to increased tax revenues, more jobs, revitalised neighbourhoods and district shopping areas and a more vibrant local economy.”
Notes
1 – The heritage report to Strategy and Resources Committee on 21 February 2024 is here
2 – Green councillors proposed the specific post of a heritage officer in their costed budget proposals in 2019. Prior to that, in 2018, they had called for action on protecting Castlegate’s heritage through conservation area status is here
3 – Sheffield Green Party policy on Conservation and heritage practice is here
