Sheffield residents’ anger and frustration at planning system after they lose lengthy campaign

More than 200 Bradway residents had objected to plans for an 80 bed care home on Twentywell Lane but councillors narrowly voted in favour of it.

Campaigners David Russell, Alison Patrick, Sarah Featherstone and Jo Mallows have spoken out in anger about the planning process.

Jo says her eco-house, which is dependent on natural light, will be overshadowed by the four storey building. She says the plans for her house were submitted around the same time as the plans for the care home but she wasn’t made aware of the neighbouring scheme.

Sarah recently bought her house and says the searches never showed a major development was planned.

Officers routinely meet with developers as part of the pre-application process, which residents say is unfair.

“Our big problem is the system is heavily weighted in favour of developers, the opportunity to get our voices across is severely limited,” said Alison.

“The developers had two years with the council’s planning officers, there’s discussions taking place before residents even know a development is on the cards.

“There’s no dialogue between us and the council or the developer, we just have to put objections in and they will consider them.

“Five weeks before the formal application there was a flyer through our doors from the developers with no details.

“A neighbour asked for more information and they said nothing had been settled. Then four weeks later a fully worked up formal planning application was submitted.”

The group was also frustrated by the planning meeting, including the crammed agenda.

Sarah said: “Originally we only had two speakers for five minutes each and we had to ask for more slots. If you know the process, if you have the confidence to stand up and speak and if you have the time to attend you can do it but a lot of people who objected couldn’t do that.

“We couldn’t repeat any points but officers are allowed to make lots of points.”

Alison added: “There were 260 objections and only six could be expressed compared to years of dialogue between officers and developers. It’s impossible for residents.

“There’s very little accountability for the councillors on the board as well, there were very few comments about why they were voting in favour of it.

“They should explain how they arrived at that decision, only the people who voted against it had to explain why. This is going to affect us forever and we deserve to hear from councillors who voted in favour of it.

“We can go to the High Court for a judicial appeal but we couldn’t afford that. It really irks me that the developers get the right to appeal.”

Sarah said it was an infuriating end to a long campaign. “If you have less money or you’re elderly or can’t use a computer or have five kids, you can’t do it.

“We spent hundreds of hours producing and printing leaflets, we held a public meeting and we rallied the troops – if you have not got the confidence to do that you can forget about having any opinion on anything built near you. It’s discrimination and disenfranchising.

“We have children aged 17 and 20 and they can’t comprehend that we are given so little opportunity to do anything.

“If we don’t have a say with something like this, what is the point? The councillors don’t have to live with the legacy of their decision. We are so angry about this and most people don’t know or understand the system.”

Jo said councillors acknowledged the work of officers but there was no recognition of the time and effort residents had put into their campaign.

“We wanted starter homes that would address some of the genuine need. It’s time for a joined up local government and the Local Plan aspires to this but there’s no point waiting until it’s two years down the line. We need this now.

“It takes something quite big to happen in the community to bring people together. A number of people on the Facebook group have commented after the event to ask what they can do.

“How can we use that energy and political engagement which should be valued? You mess with those values at your peril.”

Coun Jayne Dunn, who chaired the planning committee, said she sympathised with residents.

“I have organised information sessions in the past to explain how the planning process works but the system is weighted against a lot of people and there does need to be a planning overhaul.

“I want to give the community as much opportunity as possible to be heard and a lot of applications go to committee because of the volume of objections. Councillors have overruled officers a number of times recently.”

She said planning was a judicial process and schemes can only be refused if they break specific policies.

“If councillors are voting in favour of a recommendation, they don’t need to explain why as they are agreeing with the officer’s report and the details are contained in that.

“It can be really difficult because we have to follow legislation and committees have to make decisions based on planning policy.

“My job is to be completely impartial and fair and to make sure any applications refused are based on policy because planning appeals cost a lot of money for taxpayers.”

READ MORE:

- More than 150 Sheffield nurses call on Government for pay rise

- Sheffield restaurant gets permanent outdoor extension due to 'uncertainty' over coronavirus restrictions

- ‘All I want for Christmas is my mum back in my life’ - Sheffield families share heartbreak of care home visiting during Coronavirus pandemic

Thank you to all who support local journalism with a digital or print subscription to The Star. The events of 2020 mean trusted, local journalism is more reliant than ever on your support. We couldn't do it without you. Subscribe here www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions so we can keep campaigning on your behalf. Stay safe.