Second application to develop in Sheffield flood risk zone

Mr Rafiq Khan wants to demolish the existing furniture shop on the former site of Saxon House, on Broadfield Road, and put up the mix of student housing and retail units. The furniture business would continue in the new building.

A previous application for the same site was withdrawn in June after council officers asked the applicant to put more thought into the sequential test, which looks at the flood risk of plots of land and urges developers to consider whether better sites in lower risk areas are available.

Mr Khan’s new application suggests there are ‘significant planning merits’ to the application that outweigh any flood risk. It identifies several alternative sites but concludes none ‘meet the criteria listed as a suitable alternative’.

Today’s top stories:

Roadblock for £300m Meadowhall expansion plans over traffic congestion fears

Police seek witnesses to attack in Sheffield

Hillsborough tragedy campaigner turns down New Year’s Honour

Police patrols stepped up in wake of car vandalism in Sheffield

Staff and customers evacuated from McDonald’s restaurant in Sheffield

VOTE: Choose your fave face of 2016 casualty ch-ch-changing chameleon David Bowie

Sheffield Wednesday players given red card warnings

James Shield’s Sheffield United Column: My six issues to address in 2017