Sheffield nursery scheme set to be decided following delay
A proposal to turn a Sheffield home into a nursery and family centre is up for discussion by councillors next week, six weeks after it was first meant to be decided.
The scheme for Malik House on Springfield Road, Millhouses, was withdrawn at the last minute from the agenda of Sheffield City Council’s planning and highways committee on October 14.
The committee has been recommended to refuse planning permission to convert the detached four-bedroomed house into a nursery for up to 47 babies and children and a before and after school club for up to eight children per session. The nursery would open from 7am to 7pm Monday to Friday.
Refusal is recommended because of concerns over parking, pedestrian safety and traffic issues. The plan has attracted 38 objections and 81 supporting comments.
The proposals before the committee next Tuesday (December 9) include a single-storey side extension plus a small canopy over the front windows.
Noise
A report to the committee says: “Amended proposals submitted during the course of the application also include proposals for 2.4-metre acoustic fencing in the side/rear gardens and replacement of garden hard surfaces with rubber playground surfacing.”
This aimed to overcome neighbours’ objections to noise from children playing outside.
The report says it is understood that one ground-floor room and the garden is currently used for a childminding business for up to 12 children.
The applicant states that this can operate without planning permission but the report says “catering for 12 children on likely five days a week for 12 hours is considered overly intensive to remain in C3 [residential] use, and if the case would require planning permission”.