Seven years ago, we were promised a Conservation Area in Castlegate. Soon after that, a consultation was cancelled by a single senior councillor, acting alone, who alleged without evidence that Sheffield’s much-valued Conservations Areas were a “brake on development”.
Now Hallamshire Historic Buildings are delighted to announce that Sheffield City Council have acted to protect Castlegate, Devonshire Green and Neepsend by adding them to existing Conservation Areas, covering a much larger area and many more historic buildings. The City Centre Conservation Area Appraisal and the Kelham Island and Neespend Conservation Area Appraisal were approved by Sheffield City Council at the Planning and Highways Committee meeting held on 14 October 2025. These maps for City Centre and Kelham Island and Neepsend have the new areas marked in blue.
The committee also resolved to request that Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee add a Conservation Area Designation for The Wicker and Victoria Quays to their work programme. Members made it clear that they hoped to see this happen sooner rather than later, in parallel with the ongoing Conservation Area appraisal work rather than afterwards. We fought hard for these neglected areas to be included alongside Castlegate, and this is an important step towards that.
It’s taken a long time, and we would very much have liked the Council to go further still (see our statement to the Planning Committee). However, no-one should underestimate just how big an achievement this is, not just for campaigners but for Council officers and members. We especially commend the Planning Department for bidding for and winning the funding to make this possible.
This is great news, and a welcome change of heart at the Council. Even so, we at HHB know that we must maintain the pressure for the Council to continue to improve its performance, and we must still hold them to account for failures such as we saw with the Market Tavern and Rose Garden Café. A proactive response to the impending sale of the Old Town Hall would be welcome. Collaboration with communities to revitalise Council-owned buildings such as Abbeyfield House, Birley Spa and Meersbrook Hall is needed.
Caring for our historic buildings shows pride in our history and identity, but done right it is also an engine of prosperity.
What is a Conservation Area?
It is an area that because of its special architectural or historic interest it is desirable to preserve or enhance its character or appearance.
There is a legal presumption in favour of preserving or enhancing the area’s character or appearance. Planning permission can only override this where there is a public benefit sufficient to outweigh this presumption and a similar benefit cannot be achieved with less harm in some other way.
There are additional controls on work that can be done without planning permission. In particular, unlisted buildings outside Conservation Areas can be demolished without planning permission, but inside the area they cannot.
Click here to find out more about Sheffield’s Conservation Areas.