Police and RSPCA called out to Sheffield wildlife site over fears contractors had started work without planning permission

Senior living company Charterpoint are hoping to build a four-storey care home with 80 beds on empty land at Twentywell Lane, Bradway.

But when neighbours saw heavy machinery start digging up the site, they called the authorities.

Resident Alison Patrick said: “The site is full of wildlife, we have a camera and have footage. We were told it would probably be the end of May before the council decided on the planning application so we were shocked when men in hard hats turned up with a digger to excavate the site.

“Trees have already been cleared and they seem to want to circumnavigate the system.”

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police said: “Officers, alongside RSPCA colleagues, attended following reports of construction taking place on an area of wasteland that wildlife may be living on.

“Construction workers were asked to stop their work until the appropriate checks have been carried out.”

An RSPCA spokesman added: “The company was advised that they shouldn’t be doing any work without planning permission in case certain stipulations are applied to it which are contrary to what they’re doing and the local authority may request a recent up to date ecological survey prior to granting this.”

In a joint statement, applicants Cinnamon and Charterpoint said any construction work will only begin if the planning application is approved.

“Professionally qualified, independent ecologists have carried out all necessary pre-planning ecology surveys on the site and have confirmed that there are no species that would prevent a proposed development.

“It should be emphasised that we are intending to provide biodiversity enhancements as part of the development, and the documentation supporting the planning application outlines measures to deliver such enhancements and demonstrates that net biodiversity gains are achievable on the site.

“Activity on the site currently is in relation to ground testing, which is standard practice in the development sector at this stage in any development process and does not require planning permission.”