Historic England’s new focus on protecting department stores is most timely and necessary (More department stores in England may be given protected status, 23 August). The just-listed Cole Brothers store in Sheffield was John Lewis’s 1963 response to modern rebuilding by blitzed competitors in Sheffield, of which the architectural critic Nikolaus Pevsner had recently written: “Hardly another city of similar size has been as enterprising and enlightened.” Perfectly complementing the war memorial and city hall, it embodies memories and experience, and has accompanied celebration and commemoration. The British modernism pioneers Yorke Rosenberg Mardall inherited its “white tile” style directly from Le Corbusier, which partner and Sheffielder David Allford deployed here, then carried nationwide. Sheffield should take pride in such a building, and we are proud to be among the many who called for its listing.
Given the local controversy over the listing of the building, we welcome the resolution of Sheffield city council’s strategy and resources committee to look past unwarranted claims of listing’s huge expense and chilling effect on development, and to work with Historic England, developers and potential funders to make a national asset work for Sheffield. This is the right decision for both the economy and the climate.
A third to a half of a building’s lifetime carbon emissions occur during construction. Listed buildings are occupied disproportionately by the most productive and creative businesses. Sheffield’s response to retail upheaval should be a national flagship for department store reuse, building on the success of the city’s Castle House Co-op (also listed). This can be quick, climate-centric, less disruptive and incremental, beating unsustainable demolition hands down. Heritage must be our strategic asset, woven inseparably into the very fabric of the economy, environment and society.
Valerie Bayliss Chair, Joined Up Heritage Sheffield
Oli Marshall Campaigns manager, Twentieth Century Society
Coco Whitaker Caseworker, Twentieth Century Society
Prof Clyde Binfield Member, Twentieth Century Society
Dr Philip Booth Chair, Sheffield Conservation Advisory Group
Howard Greaves Chairman, Hallamshire Historic Buildings
Simon Ogden Former head of regeneration, Sheffield city council
Andrew Shepherd Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
Leanora Simmonite President, Sheffield Society of Architects
Andrew H Tabor Hunter Archaeological Society
Robin Hughes Hallamshire Historic Buildings and Joined Up Heritage Sheffield
Elizabeth Motley Architect
Luke Ball Architecture student
