Barra

Planner1 - I have to commend your bravery in sticking your head above the parapet...but I think despite trying to give reasonable answers and the actual reasons behind the decision to implement the scheme, there will always be someone who wants their pound of council flesh. Whatever answer you give you're going to get someone who could've done better without knowing the ins-and-outs of the whole process or reasons behind the scheme, or why it was carried out in a certain way. I've learnt that through time as a DC officer! I'll largely defend councils to the hilt as in my experience those employed by them are genuinely trying to make their patch better. Its a toughy.

There was nothing pre-arranged about it. It was a spontaneous attack by a mixed group of Feyenoord hooligans and local youths. Blades fans making their way to the ground from the Central Station via the tram got off at the stop before the ground as they'd seen a pub which was open (a few in the locality had been closed down apparently). They were there for about 20 minutes before the attacks occurred. The ground was right in the middle of a large, fairly run down estate, close to the ports of Rotterdam. I'd expect a similar event would've happened on any slightly deprived estate anywhere in the world, regardless of nationalities or even the football, if a large group of 'non-locals' started drinking in a pub. For the concerned amongst you the two people were back in the ground watching the game just before half-time, a bit gutted but otherwise OK.

Not sure but why not have a look here http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=501 and then report back and tell us all eh?

is it a Sheffield-themed fridge you're interested in making?

I'm so glad this is related to Sheffield otherwise it'd look a bit daft in the General Sheffield Chat board.

I think that particular unit must be jinxed. Everything thats opened up in there has failed quickly.

Killjoy....

Not necessarily so. I know that in Leeds upwards of 20% of all city centre flats are vacant, and people are investing in the return on the price, and cannot be bothered to rent them out due to additional costs/inconveniences. There have been presentations to investors in London, that the Council are aware of, stating that a 7% return can be expected on property in Leeds without the need to rent them out. I would think that this is what the Act is hoping to cut down on, although i don't know the ins and outs of it.

Ah, you can always count on the Daily Racist to give a fair, unbiased and unsensational review and comment on anything Labour do. I'm fairly sure that we won't find dead peoples houses being taken from beneath the noses of relatives. I have nothing in principle against the plan to use empty houses as social housing...it may even make people think twice about buying 2nd homes and property for investment purposes, allowing house prices to drop a little and make them more affordable for those that may require social housing as a result of not being able to get a foot on the property ladder.

In order of your questions asked: a) I've been aware of the building itself for a while, standing all lonely in the car park and thought it was pretty cool to be honest. As for MATILDA and the activities going on there the first I knew about it was when they put the CIQ/Hallam Uni takeover banner up. Also I noticed in Go Sheffield an article on it. As for actually going in and checking it out, to my detriment I've never been in. Slightly owrried (this is half-jokey, half-serious) that I would get run out of the place for having adidas trainers on and not being bang up-to-date with the latest environmental/political crusade. b) The future of the site. Well it definitely won't remain a car park for much longer. Ideally I'd love to see a lot of public open space involved in any redevelopment and definitely reopening the river. Also something a bit different would be great but its fairly obvious that money talks and it'll end up as some mixed-use development as its far too close to the train station not to have some residential development in there. My concern here is that effectively the residential part of Sheffield City Centre will eventually become a commuter town for Leeds/Manchester. 1) I guess in an ideal world Yorks Forward would allow MATILDA to become tenant of the building. But it would be foolish for those occupying MATILDA not to look elsewhere for an empty building to use. I was wandering round the arse end of Trippet Lane on Sunday for something to do and there are plenty of vacant works and buildings down that way screaming out to be used. 2) What would I like to see happen to the site - declare the site an independent republic. Seriously. Look up Uzupis in Vilnius or Christiania in Copenhagen. It can be done. I'll help as best I can! If not the site then definitely explore other areas of Sheffield for a republic, it'd be bloody brilliant and definitely be something unique within the UK (as far as I'm aware). 3) Bad idea. Very bad idea. Anything involving land, city centres, council and private partnerships just seems incredibly wrong. Final question) Exactly how many 'flagship' projects can be sustained before the very notion of 'flagship' is diluted to the point of worthlessness?!

The irony. That would strike me as anything but unique...

Now that is class. Its makes me all warm and fuzzy in a 'proud' kind of way. Sheffield bloody well rocks!

*Raises hand ernestly* I know I know! You can apply for planning permission on any piece of land or building regardless of ownership/whether its occupied. All you have to do is serve notice on the land owner (i.e. let them know you're doing it) and bob's yer uncle you can put in an application. I thank you... Barra Your friendly planner.

Some people really need to worry less. Is it hard to leave the house without thinking of all the things that might happen?!

I believe that is no reason not to grant permission. You can solve your problems if you think dead hard: http://www.detail.de/Archiv/En/HoleArtikel/4711/Artikel Going off topic now so I shall stop.