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Last-minute plea over 'secret garden'
A LAST-minute plea has been made for a decision on controversial housing plans for a historic 'secret garden' to be postponed until a meeting has taken place to discuss alternatives for the site.
Hallam MP Nick Clegg has written to Howard Mee, of developer Miller Homes, urging the company to ask Sheffield Council's planning committee if it can put a decision on hold.
Residents' ideas, which would allow redevelopment of most of the Broomhill site - currently occupied by Sheffield University's Tapton Hall of Residence - but preserve the garden, are to be discussed by a council scrutiny board.
However, the committee has not yet met and a decision on whether to give planning permission is due to be made today.
In his letter, Mr Clegg wrote: "I have learned that the meeting of the scrutiny board will not take place until after the planning board meeting.
"Given these facts, I am writing in the hope you will agree to urge the council to hold off making the decision until after the scrutiny board meeting.
"I hope you agree that it is both logical and fair, given the strength of local feeling, that the application is not determined until the alternatives have been appropriately explored."
He added: "As you know, there is widespread concern regarding the lost of green space with this planning application, and I share these concerns.
"Local residents have worked together to develop alternative proposals which would allow for extensive development of parts of the site whilst preserving the use of the historic gardens for the local community.
But, if a decision is made by councillors today, it is likely the scheme will be approved, following a recommendation by Sheffield Council planning officers.
Sheffield University wants to demolish Tapton halls, off Crookes Road and Taptonville Road, Broomhill, and replace them with 69 two and three-bedroomed flats and 48 one-bedroomed houses.
Under the plans, Haddow House and the Coach House would remain, converted into 10 flats, with Pisgah House remaining unaltered.
But the main controversy is the southern part of the site, where the Experimental Gardens used by the University's Plant Science Department are found.
The college is building a new garden facility off Northumberland Road and so the older gardens are not needed and the university wants to build on part of this site too.
Broomhill Neighbourhood Group (BANG) claims that building on the gardens would "destroy a piece of the city's heritage forever."
They want to try to buy the site off the university, get lottery funding and refurbish it as a public park.
BANG has submitted a petition with 1,635 signatures calling on councillors and the university to reconsider the plan.
• See The Star tomorrow for the decision.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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