A company that has permission to build a 12-storey block of student flats in Sheffield city centre is seeking to simplify the process of demolition on the site.

Fairview Estates won planning permission from Sheffield City Council in January 2024 for the site on the corner of Eyre Street and Matilda Street in the Cultural Industries Quarter Conservation Area.

They plan to build 251 student studios and cluster flats plus amenities including student hubs, cycle storage, a laundry, gym, private dining, a private study room, outdoor terraces and staff facilities.

The development must begin by January 15, 2027, under the terms of the planning permission.

Now the company’s agents Tetra Tech have applied to vary the planning conditions so that demolition can proceed without undertaking all the required investigations beforehand.

A letter to the council says: “This would allow the applicant to implement the consent (prior to the consent expiring in January 2027) and proceed with demolition promptly which will avoid the negative impact of the deteriorating building sitting vacant in the Conservation Area.

“This would reduce pre-demolition technical work to only that required specifically for demolition… rather than full intrusive investigations/remediation prior to demolition.

“It also allows demolition to proceed earlier with lower upfront cash, improving project cashflow.” It adds that initial discussions have been held between the applicant and the council and principles have been agreed.

No date has yet been set for the application to be decided but the deadline on the council’s website for determining the proposal is currently September 3.