300 homes in Sheffield valley 'irreconcilable' with council leader's vision - claim

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England is strongly opposing plans by Patrick Properties to build up to 300 new houses on the derelict Hepworth's site in the Loxley Valley.

It says if the council backs the scheme, it will be going against its own vision in its draft Local Plan.

CPRE chief executive Tomo Thompson outlined concerns in a letter to council Leader Julie Dore and cabinet member for planning Bob Johnson.

He says: "The proposed re-development of the site has ignited opposition from all across the city.

"We have been very clear that, despite it being a brownfield site, the proposals are unsustainable, damaging to the Green Belt and are not required to meet the city’s housing needs.

"There is a particular additional risk because the full details of the development are not on the table and cannot be judged."

Mr Thompson said the CPRE welcomed the Issues and Options paper for the Sheffield Plan which will be consulted on in September.

He added: "We very much welcome its aims on environment, sustainability and a city that cherishes, protects and enhances its green spaces and heritage assets.

"We also welcome your commitment ‘to minimise the number of homes on the Green Belt’ and setting out options that make the choices clear.

"Although we realise that the new Sheffield Plan is a long way from adoption and other policies currently prevail, we are still clear that the planning application for the Hepworths site can and should be refused.

"Given the vision and aims for the city that you have set out, we believe the current proposals are both irreconcilable in planning and political terms with your emerging Plan objectives.

"Anything other than refusal would signal an untimely and confusing message in relation to the very genuine aspirations of the Plan consultation."

Planning officers are studying the application, which can be viewed here

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to The Star website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you also see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Visit https://www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support it. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor