Park lodge to be leased to pay for renovation

An historic park building is set to be leased out so that it can be restored and turned into a hospitality and catering venue.

Sheffield City Council wants to transform Endcliffe Lodge, in the city's Endcliffe Park, with it having stood empty for a number of years.

Having marketed the property to potential operators, the authority's charity trustee sub-committee has now agreed to grant an exclusivity deal for up to 12 months while lease negotiations take place.

Jo Pearce, the council's parks and countryside business and partnerships manager said the preferred operator could bring "significant investment to restore this building and create a high-quality hospitality venue".

According to a council report the lodge was previously used for residential purposes and occupied by council staff who carried out duties in the park.

It added that the residential part of the lodge has been vacant since July 2023, saying the building was "starting to show signs of deterioration".

The report went on to say that "with investment, the lodge has potential to transform this area of Endcliffe Park".

The park is owned by a charitable trust, of which the council is the sole trustee.

The deal would bring income to the park charitable trust and mean that restoration work can be completed without a cost to the council.

The park was created for the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887, with the lodge and pavilion were built near to the Hunters Bar entrance three years later.

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