Save Portland Works

As many of you may know, a planning application has been made to the Council to convert Portland Works in Sharrow into a new block of flats and offices. It is home to around 20 specialist businesses making everything from dye to bespoke hunting knives and was the first forge in Sheffield to create stainless steel in 1912. It is Grade II* listed, meaning it is classed as a “particularly significant building of more than local interest”.

If you feel strongly about protecting this part of Sheffield heritage or want to find out more about its history, visit the Portland Works campaign website. There is also a display running at Bank Street Arts until April 17th that aims to give people an idea of the importance of the works and its traditional industrial methods.

You can still lodge a complaint with the council online. Click ‘Submit Comments…’ at the top, give them your address and let them have it, but first read the ‘writing an objection’ page of the campaign site for details on how to make an impression with your comments. Apparently numbers alone don’t cut it – objections must contain ‘material considerations’ (based on things like design, impact on a listed building or traffic).

It would be a real shame if these businesses, some of which have been based at the works for over 40 years, were forced out to be replaced by 64 box-sized flats. We can do better than this. Say something.