Levelling Up: Planning application approved for Harmony Works

The Harmony Works project has passed another significant milestone with the approval of its planning and listed buildings application, taking it one step closer towards its goal to create a new   home for music education in Sheffield.

The plans will see the historic Grade II* listed Canada House on Commercial Street transformed into a state-of-the-art music facility, bring the building back to life with a variety of teaching and rehearsal rooms, community spaces, a publicly accessible café, and a newly renovated, impressive performance space in the lofty, glass-domed hall.

Last year, Sheffield City Council secured £20m from the Government’s Levelling Up fund to transform the Castlegate area, which included establishing Harmony Works. £1.6m will be granted to Harmony Works by the Council to acquire the empty Canada House building, which was built in 1875. This means it will be possible to secure the future of a building which otherwise would have fallen into disrepair.

The Harmony Works team have been working hard to plan the detail of their vision for the future of the building, working with a wide variety of stakeholders including the Castlegate partnership and the children and young people of Sheffield. The project team has included Evans Vettori Architects, Arup, Turner and Townsend, BWA, Creative Heritage and Hepworth Acoustics.

Harmony Works will bring together the knowledge and expertise of Sheffield Music Academy and Sheffield Music Hub, along with their partners including Brass Bands England and Music in the Round to create a home for music education right in the heart of the city and accessible to all across the City Region.

Harmony Works is continuing to work on the development of the project and securing additional funding.

Cllr Mazher Iqbal, Co-Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said:

“We’re so pleased to have been able to work with Harmony Works to secure Levelling Up funding which will create a highly valued resource in the city, and the wider region. As a city known for producing many musical talents, access to music facilities is so important to us. Harmony Works will be an incredible asset to us all, especially younger generations. It is also fantastic to see the impressive Canada House building will soon be restored and inhabited again.”

Emily Pieters, Director of Harmony Works, said:

‘We’re absolutely delighted to have reached this very important step in our journey.  Our planning consent is a testament to the hard work of the Harmony Works partners and team and to the thoughtful and environmentally sensitive approach the design team have taken with this fantastic building. We’re looking forward to making these designs a reality, and for children and young people throughout the region to have a place to call their musical home.’