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Town hall repair bill could total £50m

BBC The outside of Sheffield Town Hall. It is a Grade I listed building, in a gothic Victorian style with a clock tower, turrets and large arched windows.BBC
Sheffield Town Hall needs extensive repairs and renovation

A historic town hall is in need of repairs that could cost up to £50m, a council report has warned.

Sheffield Town Hall, which was opened by Queen Victoria in 1897, is one of only two Grade I listed buildings in the city centre, along with Sheffield Cathedral.

Councillors will next week discuss a report which says the cost of major restoration and safety works will range from £20m to £50m.

Sheffield City Council leader Tom Hunt said the authority would not consider any commercial alternative use for building, such as a hotel.

Sheffield City Council The Lord Mayor's Parlour is a grand room with dark wood-panelled walls, a carpet with a leaf design, very tall arched windows, a huge marble fireplace and an ornate ceiling. There is a selection of armchairs and a sofa around the fire place. On the walls are large antique paintings in gold frames of individual people and the ceiling has chandeliers.Sheffield City Council
The Lord Mayor's Parlour inside Sheffield Town Hall, where repair costs could total £50m

Mr Hunt said: "The building has a unique place in the life of our city and we are setting out a path to ensure the town hall is fully restored and refurbished so that it can continue to serve everyone in our city.

"This is a significant opportunity and we look forward to working with the public and heritage organisations to undertake this important work."

Emergency work was carried out to stop the building being closed but the council said ongoing unplanned work had put pressure on its budget and posed a "significant financial risk".

Urgent work was carried out after a report by the council in 2022 found serious risks including fire safety, Legionella from water supplies, no ventilation in the council chamber and leaks from an old large diesel tank.

Systems in the building were described as "aged, inefficient, muddled or defunct" and the report said while some issues were cosmetic, others posed a risk to people.

Sheffield City Council A grand, sweeping marble staircase leads from the front entrance of the town hall upstairs to the council chamber. It has a red carpet running down the middle, with marble bannisters. There are ornate marble arches in the town hall foyer and tall ceilings.Sheffield City Council
The main staircase in Sheffield Town Hall, leading to the council chamber

Immediate action was taken on fire safety.

The 2022 report said: "Security staff have reported complaints of false alarms and the wireless fire detection system failing, leaving around 40% of the building without automatic fire detection."

It said stairs were "unprotected" and did not provide "sufficient fire or smoke separation", while the evacuation strategy for occupants with disabilities was unclear.

Sheffield City Council An ornate ceiling, carved and painted in cream and pale blue. Two large chandeliers hang down over tall windows. There is also an engraved tablet.Sheffield City Council
Sheffield Town Hall is one of only two Grade I listed buildings in the city centre, along with the cathedral

The town hall hosts council meetings, civic functions, weddings, elections and the register office.

Councillors will discuss the next stage of design work, including updated costs, at a meeting on Wednesday 22 January.

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