'Secret garden' gets temporary reprieve

The University of Sheffield wants to knock down its halls of residence off Taptonville Road to allow for a huge housing development.

But the scheme means building on part of a Victorian garden filled with original features including a sunken wall.

Campaigners in Broomhill want to buy the garden from the university and apply for lottery funding to transform it into a park.

But the university has failed to meet campaigners to discuss their plan.

Protesters were given a glimmer of hope yesterday when Sheffield Council's City Centre, South and East Planning and Highways Area Board voted to defer taking a decision on the scheme for another two weeks.

It allows time for a disagreement between the council and the university – over the amount of affordable housing to be included – to be resolved.

It also gives campaigners time to meet the developers in a last-ditch attempt to save the garden.

The Broomhill Neighbourhood Group (BANG) claims building on the gardens would "destroy a piece of the city's heritage for ever."

Lee Kenny, from BANG said: "I am very pleased they have deferred. We have set up a meeting with developers Miller Homes. Hopefully we can still persuade them that saving the garden would be a win-win situation for everyone."

Coun Sylvia Dunkley said she was unhappy the university had failed to even meet campaigners. She added: "I am concerned that we have a body of people interested in this site and the university has failed to even talk to them."

If given the green light, the development will comprise 69 two and three-bedroomed flats, 10 flats within the Haddow and Coach Houses and 48 one-bedroomed houses.

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