Plans in for redevelopment of Lion Works, Sheffield

Located in Kelham Island on the northern bank of the River Don, the two-acre brownfield site could become home to 142 homes and 5,000 sq ft of commercial space.

Axis Architecture submitted the plans on behalf of Lion Works Kelham, owned by Javed Akthar Saddique.

Proposals for the mixed-use scheme Ball Street site involve the selective demolition of later industrial buildings, while retaining and converting a number of historically significant structures associated with the former Lion Works complex, which dates back to the late 19th century.

Existing buildings on the site currently accommodate a mix of light industrial uses, offices, artists’ studios and a café.

Although no listed buildings sit within the site boundary, several structures have been identified as having heritage value and will be adapted for residential use.

These include the riverfront Bedfords building, workshop and office ranges along Mowbray Street, the curved corner building at Ball Street, the Crucible stack building, and a surviving historic wall close to Ball Street Bridge.

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The scheme comprises a mix of new-build and converted accommodation, delivering 51 townhouses and 91 apartments.

New development includes apartment blocks of up to five and six storeys along the river frontage, a four- to five-storey apartment block on Mowbray Street, and four-storey townhouses running north–south across the site.

A two-storey set-back rooftop extension is also proposed on the Bedfords building.

A central element of the proposals is a landscaped public courtyard designed to improve permeability and provide a new pedestrian route through the site, alongside outdoor play space, and 71 car spaces have also been allocated, split between two car parks.

Commercial units are proposed at ground floor on Ball Street and Mowbray Street, including a riverfront unit with an external terrace to strengthen engagement with the waterside.

Lion Works Kelham has already undertaken three rounds of pre-application consultation with Sheffield City Council, with officers confirming the site’s suitability for residential use.