The papers held at Newcastle are a substantial repository of the personal papers and plans of Sharp. The major part of the collection consists of papers collected from Sharp's Oxford house on his death by the now-retired Professor Brenikov of this University. The papers were subsequently put into storage. Their significance realised they were deposited with the University Library Special Collections. The principal elements of the collection are as follows:

Files of information and correspondence relating to individual texts, including unpublished works

Files of information and correspondence relating to individual plans. This includes, for example, work on historic cities, new villages, new towns and overseas commissions and competition entries

Original plans for many commissions

Extensive documentation on key planning cases where Sharp appeared as a witness at public inquiry e.g. Oxford Roads, Kepier Power Station Durham, Clarendon Hotel Oxford

Extensive books of press-cuttings on all of the above

Typescript of an unpublished autobiography and manuscript autobiographical notes

Typescripts of government information films, radio talks, lectures

Documentation on unsuccessful commissions

Correspondence regarding the formation of the Civic Trust

Lecture slides

Miscellaneous personal correspondence

Creative writing i.e. poetry, novels, radio plays etc., largely unpublished

Collectively these resources:
Demonstrate the evolution of Sharp's thinking both in terms of individual commissions and over the course of his career
Illustrate important issues about the process of undertaking planning commissions in the period e.g. fees charged, numbers of staff employed, briefs set etc.
Provide a rich source of information on how commissions were received both by clients and professional and local audiences
Provide a rich source of material on how competing arguments and ideologies of urban evolution were advanced.

This project comprised of the design of two twinned developments – a residential development known as ‘The Summit’ and a business development known as ‘The Centre’, located in the district of Xuhui in Shanghai, on metro lines 1 & 2. The Summit development comprised of seven luxury residential buildings – three low rises, one medium-rise, and three high-rise towers. Total floor area: 627000 square metres. The Centre comprised of one high-rise block, 40 storeys high, with a total floor area of 87300 square metres. The column free design and 360 degree glass wall offered panoramic views of the Shanghai skyline.

Project Partners:
Client: Hutchinson Whampoa Properties

An investigation into the lack of colour in the built environment by Dr Peter Kelvin on behalf of the Paintmakers Association of Great Britain, and with an introduction by Terry Farrell.

Report on the need for colour in the building industry, introduction by Sir Terry Farrell, p4.

Includes a small collection of research material and campaign files relating to sexual health schemes. Filed in specific folders to each sexual health campaigned and kept in original order.