Work by Sheffield law firm Wake Smith Solicitors has helped secure the future of a historic listed building in the city.
Commercial property lawyers from Wake Smith worked with developers Aestrom OTH throughout the acquisition including obtaining a licence for access to carry out crucial structural works at the derelict Grade II-Listed Old Town Hall on Castle Street as part of exchanging contracts early last year. The acquisition was completed last month.
The legal work meant contractors, on behalf of the developer Aestrom OTH, could access the building and make it safe, after more than two decades of neglect.
The building, which is more than 200 years old and which was once used as a courthouse, will now be turned into a hotel and apartments after plans were approved by Sheffield City Council.
Tom Weightman, commercial property solicitor at Wake Smith said: “This has been a brave and significant undertaking by the developer Efe Omu to make the site safe. There was a strict timetable to get the legal work done and the contractors in, to make the building safe as part of the ongoing planning application. This is unusual to do it this way round and a real commitment to the building which had laid derelict for the past 23 years.
“This was the first part of transforming the site and now planning permission has been granted Efe can push on with his plans for 12 apartments and a hotel.”
Aestrom OTH says it will look to maintain many of the original features such as former cells, benches, internal fixtures and fittings as part of their plans including ‘pod’ hotel rooms and a souk market with 11 stalls, which will be open to the public.
University of Sheffield alumni Efe Omu said: “This building is a significant part of Sheffield’s history, and located in the heart of a rapidly evolving Castlegate quarter. We have committed significant time and effort to ensuring its future viability.
“We will make sure we preserve the building as much as we can. The detailed work that we have already undertaken on this building shows how much pride we have in making sure it was not irreversibly ruined, but preserved and restored.”
"We want to see this building restored and brought back into use. Wake Smith have helped us to get our plans on track.”
For legal advice on commercial property advice contact Tom Weightman at [email protected] or on 0114 224 2168.
Wake Smith help building transformation plan
Tags
Archive
April 20241March 20247February 20242January 20248December 20236November 20232October 20235September 20232August 20234July 20232June 20235May 20238March 20234February 20235January 20233December 20225November 20224October 20224September 20223August 20221June 20221May 20227April 20223March 20223February 20223January 20224December 20214November 20213October 20215September 20216August 20212July 202111June 20218May 20216April 20212March 20218February 20218January 20219December 20208November 202013October 20209September 20208August 20203July 20208June 202016May 202013April 20209March 202016February 20209January 202011December 20199November 20199October 201911September 20195August 20194July 20196May 20198April 20196March 20193February 20195January 20194December 20186November 20185October 20182September 20185August 20184July 20189June 20184May 201810April 20185March 20184February 20184January 20183December 20175November 20178October 20177September 20179August 20175July 20176June 201710May 20176April 20178March 201711February 20176January 201712December 20169November 20167October 201610September 201610August 20166July 20167June 20163May 20162April 20166March 20162February 20164January 20165December 20153November 20155October 20156September 20156August 20157July 20157June 20157May 20156April 20159March 20156February 201510January 20156December 20145November 20144October 20142September 20143May 20144March 20146February 20144January 20142December 20132November 20133September 20134July 20132June 20132May 20133April 20131March 20133February 20133January 20136December 20121November 20123October 20122August 20122July 20128June 20123April 20123March 20121January 20124December 20112November 20111October 20112September 20113August 20113July 20117June 20119May 20117April 20115March 20119February 20118January 20111December 20101October 20102September 20102August 20103July 20106June 20101May 20102April 20106March 20102February 20103January 20102December 20095November 20092October 20092September 20092August 20091July 20095June 20095May 20093April 20093March 20093February 20091January 20092November 20082October 20082September 20081August 20083July 20081January 20082
