Over 280 new homes could be built at the site of a former Sheffield paper mill - but none of them will be 'affordable'

Plans for the housing development at Oughtibridge Mill have been put together by well-known volume house builders, Barratt David Wilson Homes and Sky House Company Limited.

If approved, the houses will be built at Oughtibridge Mill but will not include any 'affordable' homes as the developer was granted their application to avoid this condition.

Instead, they are required to pay £1.75 million contribution towards affordable housing schemes elsewhere in the city, £737,427 for a pedestrian bridge, money towards local education and £20,000 for bus stop improvements in the area.

COUNCIL: Outrage over council's decision to recommend Google Translate for residents attempting to understand complex report on safety of Sheffield tower block

Two neighbours sent letters to Sheffield Council objecting to the plans, saying it was ‘out of character with the local area’ and would ‘obscure the view looking down the valley’.

One person said: "A higher standard of design should be expected within this area of natural beauty."

The site lies on the boundary between Sheffield and Barnsley but Sheffield Council gets the final say as officers predict new residents will use the city's services more.

A report by officers said several trees would be felled as part of the redevelopment but these had been kept ‘to a minimum’ and compensated by new trees.

COUNCIL: Future of Sheffield's historic Old Town Hall set to be decided next week

Officers recommended the council's planning committee grant the application conditionally and said: "It is considered that the proposed scheme is of acceptable design quality that would make a positive contribution to the character of the surrounding area.

“The layout of the scheme has been amended following discussions with the developers, which has resulted in a scheme that would sit comfortably within the context of the site and surrounding area and respond well to the River Don that runs through the heart of the site."

Plans will be discussed at a highways and planning meeting on Tuesday, December 17 from 2pm.