The Ashdell Campaign | University renews efforts to sell off and develop open spaces

April 1999
MORE PROPOSALS

The University of Sheffield has revealed yet more plans to sell off and develop green spaces around Stephenson Hall.

IMAGE RIGHT: Figure 1 - Ashdell House from the Dell
(©1998 Graham Soult)

Despite its plans for a house on the front lawn of Ashdell being refused last year, the University of Sheffield has prepared a fresh wave of development proposals. For the most part, these involve selling land to the housebuilder Crosby Homes, who intend building five storey private luxury flats.

Click here to view my letter of objection with regard to these new applications.

As with any University plans, information is not always easy to come by - but the main thrust of the proposals are as follows:

1. Ashdell House (Figure 1), Coach House (Figure 2) and lawn by car park (Figure 3) (but excluding The Dell) to be sold to Westbourne School.
(no application for change of use or listed building consent made yet)

IMAGE ABOVE: Figure 2 - The Coach House
(©1998 Graham Soult)

IMAGE ABOVE: Figure 3 - Front lawn with specimen beech tree in foreground
(©1998 Graham Soult)

This is the least contentious of the proposals - indeed, it is believed that the sale may have already gone through. In many ways, this scheme may be beneficial, in so far as Westbourne School may well look after Ashdell (a listed building) better than the University has. Equally, it seems that the green areas will be kept as open space.

However, The Dell and the tennis courts are not part of this parcel, despite Westbourne School offering to buy the tennis courts as an amenity for its students. Both these areas are now under threat.

2. Tennis courts (Figure 4) and grass areas both sides up to the drive to S-block/kitchen yard and including The Dell (Figure 5).
Planning Application: 99/0202P

IMAGE ABOVE: Figure 4 - View towards tennis courts
(©1998 Graham Soult)

IMAGE ABOVE: Figure 5 - The Dell, with monkeypuzzle tree
(©1998 Graham Soult)

This land has apparently already been sold, subject to planning permission, to Crosby Homes to build 21 private flats in a 5-story complex. They have already ruined the croquet lawn by drilling large test pits!

The Dell will disappear under development, despite “Sheffield’s Historic Parks and Gardens” (a City Council publication) calling it the “most interesting part of the garden”, and a “fine example of a Victorian woodland garden using the former quarry to great effect, with dramatic views”.

3. Heatherleigh, Mews, and Warden's House (8 Oakholme Road) garden
Planning Application: 99/0203P

This land is allocated for private flats, much as above, with the addition of 6 private dwellinghouses as well. It will involve the demolition of Heatherleigh (a fine Victorian villa) and the loss of the attractive Victorian garden at 8 Oakholme Road.

4. Land in Crewe grounds from Betjemin Gardens to end of Crewe building
(No planning application yet)

IMAGE ABOVE: Figure 6 - The listed former Warden's House at Crewe Flats
(©1998 Graham Soult)

The University plans to sell the waste land below the squash courts, the squash courts themselves and the lawn in front of the courts. Whatever form the development takes, it is likely to have an impact on the setting of the Crewe Warden’s House (Figure 6), a listed building.

Graham Soult
7 April 1999

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