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2 September 2011
Last updated at
01:26
In pictures: New Park Hill flats in Sheffield unveiled
Sheffield's Park Hill flats have been given a makeover by developer Urban Splash. The north block of the Grade II listed building has taken seven years to be given a new lease of life. Although the block will not be fully finished until 2012, two show flats have been unveiled for the first time.
The estate, which opened on 16 June 1961, was designed by Jack Lynn and Ivor Smith. The wide external corridors were known as the "streets in the sky" when it was first opened. In the new development residents and guests will be the only people allowed within the building, rather than it being open to the general public.
The north block holds a variety of different sized flats, from one to three bedrooms, some of which are on different floors. Every flat has a dual aspect of the city, overlooking the city centre, and on the opposite side Duke Street.
Park Hill has a piece of graffiti on one of the bridges linking two of the blocks together, which reads I Love You Will U Marry Me, which is displayed on two cushions in one of the showroom flats.
Concrete walls have been left bare throughout the flats. Urban Splash said conditions would be given to buyers stating what can be done to the walls, as the building is listed.
The flats have been built so when interior doors are opened they fit within the wall (as shown).
The north block development is phase one of the project. A further three blocks will be overhauled in the future. Urban Splash said it would assess the sales of the first block before starting on further work. Each of the flats has an identical Park Hill-labelled bath.
Four show home flats will be opened to the public on 8 October, when people will be able to view the properties and declare an interest in purchasing plots. Urban Splash said residents would not be able to move into the north block until September 2012.
Seventy-eight apartments are within the north block, with 26 of those reserved for those in social housing.
Concrete walls have been left exposed throughout. This wall in one of the living rooms has an old back box of a lightswitch and remains of wooden beams.
As part of the northern block being unveiled, a new steel staircase has been installed and two glass lifts. The refurbishment of the north block has cost the developer £14m.
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