Plans refused to build dozens of new homes in village on outskirts of Sheffield

The development was proposed for a two hectare piece of land in the centre of Worrall, on Wiggan Farm, 30 Towngate Road, most of which is a field with a farmhouse, farm buildings, hardstanding and a large quantity of wrapped hay bales.

Sheffield Council’s planning committee decided to block the plans on grounds of the loss of undesignated heritage assets having a harmful impact on the character of the area and subsequent harmful impact on the setting of the listed buildings.

Councillor Andrew Sangar said: “I shall be opposing this application, it is clearly the wrong access point.

"To lose an 18th century barn which has huge amounts of local heritage value, plus the setting of the listed buildings - it’s the wrong access to this site. Irrespective of anything else, this is the wrong access."

But not all agreed. Coun Gary Weatherall said: "At the end of the day it’s an ideal site for what it’s been put in for.

"We are short of 44,000 houses in Sheffield and this is a start. On balance, I will be voting for this.”

Ahead of the meeting there were more than 100 representations made by members of the public, Worrall Environmental Group, local councillors, Hallamshire Historic Buildings, Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, MP for Sheffield Hallam Olivia Blake and others.

Robin Hughes raised his objection in the meeting and said: “Worrall is an ancient village with an entry in the Domesday book.

"The historic core at the junction of Towngate Road is still clearly legible and some of the surrounding buildings are well into their fourth centuries.

"A visitor from two hundred years ago standing here today would have no difficulty orienting themselves using familiar landmarks, including 17th century Wiggan Farm and its attractive 18th century barn on Towngate Road.

“The avoidable and unnecessary demolition of the barn and farmhouse would rob the village of a great feel of their historic context, leaving them overwhelmed by modern development.”

Councillor Penny Baker, who also objected, said in the meeting: “This development is in the centre of the beautiful, small village of Worrall.

“Our biggest concern is that this development would increase the number of houses in this small village by 12 per cent in one go. It’s a huge increase, and it would totally and completely change the character of a lovely, old village.

"We have also got considerable concerns about the lack of infrastructure to support the development.

"There is one shop in the village but that's it, it's a very intimate service and the nearest primary school is in Oughtibridge which is already over-subscribed, there are no doctors, no dentists."

The councillors voted nine to three against the plans.

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