Shepherd restarts Sheffield tower after cladding row

Shepherd Construction's contract to build a 32-storey tower in Sheffield is back on track after the council agreed to allow some minor changes to the building’s design.

Residents had feared St Paul’s Tower would remain half-finished after the local council refused to agree to changes to the building’s cladding.

Architects Conran and Partners had applied to change the proposed sleek glass cladding to coloured panels to cut costs.

After heated negotiations, developer City Lofts has agreed to retain floor-to-ceiling glass in turn for permission to use portions of back painted glass on upper floors.

The alterations will not result in any major changes to the original concept.

Council said it had worked “to the wire” with the developers and defended its willingness to “step up to the mark” to resolve the design argument.

Council leader Paul Scriven said: “This just goes to show that where there are contentious issues with developments, we can work together to resolve them.

“There are now no planning reasons why this development cannot move forward.”

Project bosses had warned the council risked losing potential investors because of its handling of the initial situation.