Apartments to be built next to historic Sheffield cemetery - despite numerous complaints from residents and business owners

New apartments will be built in a busy Sheffield neighbourhood despite protests from residents and business owners.
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Cemetery Road Car Sales will be replaced with 11 apartments and three duplex apartments but there are fears it will impact on the neighbouring Grade II-listed Montague House and the listed Sheffield General Cemetery, the city’s main burial ground in Victorian times.

Sarah Blackwell, founder and CEO of Forest Schools Education, owns a nursery nearby and appealed to councillors to block the development.

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“This is a nature nursery and Sheffield is the home of forest schools globally. We have been working for 20 years so children can enjoy green spaces and woodland.

The development will be built on the site for a former car showroom in Cemetery RoadThe development will be built on the site for a former car showroom in Cemetery Road
The development will be built on the site for a former car showroom in Cemetery Road

“It’s very important that our children have an understanding that the council is concerned about natural green spaces. Any parents coming to our nursery is in awe and wonder of this landscape.”

Sharon Watson said the neighbourhood was already struggling with parking. “We have the pilate studio classes, football matches and visitors to Sharrow Point. How much more can we take?

“It will do irretrievable harm to a designated heritage asset which was designed to be viewed from across the valley.”

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Developer Steve Burlaga said he was passionate about the scheme. “I live locally and know the difficulties of the area but the key thing with a lot of businesses is that people have to be told not to bring their car so we can get a sustainable city. I’m as guilty as anybody but I’m making more of an effort to walk.

“We have worked very hard with planning and conservation officers. It’s a sensitive building and I believe it’s an ideal opportunity to renovate a second hand car lot.”

The planning board agreed. Coun Andrew Sangar said: “This is incredibly difficult and it’s about balance. It’s a hugely important part of Sheffield and a heritage site and the views across the valley are important.

“Is this the best we can get? The current use is not brilliant and this is a better, sympathetic development which has been scaled down to match other buildings.”

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