Public consultation launched on plans for 130 new homes on Sheffield estate
“It is important that local residents have the opportunity to influence what comes forward”
Developers are setting out their intention to build 130 new homes on unused land in a Sheffield neighbourhood - and residents are getting a chance to influence the plans.
Sheffield Housing Company - a joint venture established by Sheffield City Council in 2011 - has revealed their initial plans for new housing developments on two sites in Arbourthorne.
A smaller development on land off Daresbury Drive would see 26 homes built, while a larger plot between East Bank Road and Eastern Drive could see the creation of 104 new homes.
The East Bank Road site had previously been the location of a maisonette which was demolished 25 years ago, with the land left abandoned since.
Full planning applications haven’t yet been submitted, but the ward’s Labour councillors are launching a public consultation to get residents’ views on the matter.
“For a generation, local people have looked out on these former maisonette sites and wondered when something would finally happen,” Councillor Ben Miskell said.
"While no planning applications have yet been submitted, it is important that local residents have the opportunity to influence what comes forward.
"We will always champion investment in Arbourthorne, and we're pleased that our community has seen more investment in recent years than it did through much of the previous two decades. We welcome the regeneration of long-derelict brownfield sites, but it's equally important that local people's views are heard and taken into account.
"Our area needs more affordable and social housing, and we've long campaigned for investment in new homes locally, including helping secure £14.9 million that delivered 73 new council homes in our community.
"This is a significant opportunity to shape the future of these sites, so I'd encourage everyone to get in touch and tell us their views, as well as participate in the developer’s own consultation.”
The councillors are calling on the developments to feature relevant infrastructure including GP services, leisure facilities, safe walking routes and places for children to play.
They have also claimed that the East Bank Road site has been plagued with anti-social behaviour in recent years and are hoping that new developments will help address these ongoing problems.
Coun Mia Drazaic added: "Any development must work for existing residents as well as future ones. That's why we're asking local people to tell us what they would like to see and what concerns they might have.
"We'll be arguing for as much affordable and social housing as possible, alongside the infrastructure communities need, including the right number of school places, GP services, leisure facilities, safe walking routes, green spaces and places for children to play.
"We also want to see these sites designed in a way that helps address long-standing issues residents have raised with us, including anti-social behaviour, dumped vehicles and illegal motorbike use.
"The views of local residents should be at the heart of these discussions. It is important that residents' views are properly taken into account as the proposals develop, and we'll be making sure the feedback we receive is communicated to the developer."
However, local Reform UK councillor Matt Smith has raised concerns, saying that additional bus services and school provisions need to be organised ahead of any development.
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He has also said that the homes need to be for “local people” otherwise he won’t support the loss of green space.
“I only support these schemes if the houses that are built will be for local people,” he added.
“Since May I have been continually dealing with several cases where local residents who have grown up on Arbourthorne have already been waiting years, and have been told they’re still not a priority.
“I’m fully aware of how desperate local people are for housing, with often six or seven family members living together because of a lack of housing, yet so many houses seem available for City of Sanctuary and other schemes for migrants. The new homes therefore must be for local people, otherwise I won’t support this further loss of green space.
“We should be prioritising brownfield sites first, before we use lovely green spaces such as these. These green spaces are part of the identity of Park and Arbourthorne ward, with the views from Eastern Drive in particular being really beautiful, so it would be a great shame to lose it forever whilst large sites like these former Job Centre building on Eastern Avenue have sat derelict for years.”