High Hazels House at Tinsley Park to Undergo Major Renovation

Strategic Insights -

The High Hazels House at Tinsley Park, owned by a charitable trust with the council as sole trustee, is set to undergo extensive renovation work. The project, which could take up to 18 months, aims to bring the building up to a good standard, with a particular focus on the roof and timber framework. The estimated cost of the installation is £323,000, and temporary facilities, including toilets, will be set up in the park's car park to allow the golf club to continue operating.

Key Takeaways:

  • The renovation project at High Hazels House is estimated to cost £323,000 and is expected to take up to 18 months to complete.
  • The project aims to bring the building up to a good standard, with a focus on addressing issues with the roof and timber framework.
  • Temporary facilities, including toilets, will be set up in the park's car park to allow the golf club to continue operating.
  • The golf club's operation was handed over to Sheffield City Trust in 2020, and later to SLM Community Leisure Charitable Trust (Everyone Active) without the maintenance responsibilities being addressed.
  • The council's leisure strategy includes backlog maintenance of existing sites and new-build leisure facilities, with a budget of £117 million and capital spending agreed by the finance committee.
  • The decision to proceed with the renovation was made as part of a council general leisure strategy agreed over 30 years ago.
  • Coun Douglas Johnson expressed concerns about the project's substantial investment, which he believed could run into millions, and questioned why the outsourced provider was not required to pay for the work.
  • Council legal advisor Sherrie Grant explained that landlords cannot derogate all their responsibilities to a leaseholder, and director of leisure, parks and libraries Lisa Firth stated that the capital spending is to bring the building up to a decent standard before handing responsibility for maintenance over to an outside provider.

Statistics:

  • Estimated cost of the renovation project: £323,000
  • Expected duration of the project: up to 18 months
  • Budget for the council's leisure strategy: £117 million
  • Number of years over which the council's general leisure strategy was agreed: 30

Sources:

  • Sheffield City Council's charity trustee sub-committee report on June 23
  • Speech by Tammy Barrass, council head of sport, leisure and major events
  • Newspaper article on the Rose Garden Cafe in Graves Park