Battle pledge over English Heritage plans to list city market building

COUNCIL leaders in Sheffield have vowed to do everything possible to scupper proposals by English Heritage to list the city's Castle Market building.

Traders are currently in the process of moving from the market building, which was built in the 1960s and has fallen into a state of disrepair, to a new market on The Moor.

The move would make way for a regeneration project to open up the site of the former medieval castle, once used to imprison Mary, Queen of Scots, and turn it into a park and tourist attraction.

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However, the scheme could fail if the listing application is successful because Sheffield Council would struggle to get permission to demolish the market building.

Sheffield Council has now dubbed the potential listing as "misconceived, inappropriate and detrimental to the protection of Sheffield's heritage".

Council leader Paul Scriven said: "It seems strange that English Heritage are considering this listing now, as Castle Market was rejected as a candidate for listing in 1995 when it was considered 'not outstanding for year' by the English Heritage inspector.

"We will be doing everything possible to prevent Castle Market being listed by English Heritage.

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"The land it stands on holds the key to the regeneration of that part of the city centre. English Heritage need to listen to Sheffielders, who cherish the castle remains and their potential opening up to the public, and not the brutalist and not-fit-for-purpose 1960s market that sits on top of them."

If Castle Market were to be listed, the council said, it would not only jeopardise the redevelopment of the Castlegate area but could also scupper the building of the new markets on The Moor.

Meanwhile, according to a survey by the VisitBritain organisation, industrial towns are becoming tourist magnets for overseas visitors.

Patricia Yates from VisitBritain said: "An astonishing transformation of our industrial heartlands has taken place. They have become dynamic, stylish international destinations."