Jump to content

Decision awaits on £175m investment plan for Upper Don Valley


Recommended Posts

Sheffield Star 25th April

 

Housing plans hit by scope for jobs

PLANS for a huge new housing scheme in the Upper Don Valley could be thrown out today by planners at Sheffield Council amid fears it could hit employment opportunities in the area.

Developer Menta had been hoping its plan for the £175 million mixed use Beeley Wood Sustainable Community Scheme would be recommended for approval by planning officers at Sheffield Council's West and North Planning and Highways Area Board.

 

Menta wants to build 550 new homes on land at the northeastern end of Claywheels Lane industrial estate, off Penistone Road North, Wadsley Bridge. The buildings would be a mix of two-bedroom flats and two and three-bedroom houses.

But its hopes look like being dashed as officers have recommended the plans be refused. A separate application to build 36 business units on land next to Beeley Wood Lane is recommended for approval.

Planners say the housing development would result in the loss of industrial and business land, harming the economic development and employment opportunities in the area.

They fear it could have a bad effect on existing plans to revive the housing market in north Sheffield by "flooding the market".

Menta director Craig Marks said the housing plan would bring infrastructure and transport improvements, including a new road bridge and two new pedestrian bridges over the River Don, new community facilities, 660 new jobs, and would bring traffic relief to Middlewood Road and Hillsbor-ough.

He says the plan would unlock the potential for a total of more than £300 million of investment in the Don Valley in the two projects – Beeley Wood and Snow Mountain.

He said: "Our plans have already been viewed extremely favourably by the area's MP David Blunkett and residents living nearby in Middlewood, Hillsborough and Winn Gardens. They say the plans are a long-awaited solution to kick-starting regeneration.

"Our Masterplan aims to deliver major infrastructure, lifestyle and economic benefits to the immediate area and surrounding communities of Wadsley Park Village, Winn Gardens and Hillsborough through high quality employment and housing.

"The alternative, should our applications not receive planning consent, is for the sites to remain in their existing dilapidated state."

But they are facing a swathe of hostile opinion from both local residents and official bodies.

Two petitions and 17 letters of objection have been received from the public, objecting to, amongst other things, plans for a bridge from Claywheels Lane to the Winn Gardens estate.

Concerns have also been raised by the Sheffield Wildlife Trust about the effect on an Area of Natural History and the quality of the water in the River Don. Bradfield Parish Council is objecting to loss of the Green Belt to build the bridge, but is recommending approval overall.

They say: "It is considered that the proposal provides inadequate regeneration benefits to compensate for theharm and loss of opportunity resulting from the development planned."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I grew up in that area and used regularly to walk my dog through that wood and along claywheels lane. And it was always filthy and full of scrap cars and rubbish dumped. There was regular strong smells from the brewery, you could often hear the forge working, and the river was always a bright colour depending on the current run in the oughtibridge tissue factory. We used to catch fish in the river as children in the 70s and early 80s and they had lumps and were clearly not healthy due to pollution.

 

I think putting a main road and a bridge through there will only improve the area. The nice woods were much further on, and this area was more a waste than a nice nature reserve. With its revolting looking drains into the river from the factories etc. This kind of development will clean the area up and set aside safe paths and bring into use the riverside as an asset to the area rather than somewhere for filthy scuffers to leave matresses which they can't be bothered to take to the dumpit.

 

Also If I lived nearby already, I would not be too concerned about attracting industry with new industrial units, because they will not allow heavy industry near a new residential district. It would more likely be warehouse storage and light manufacturing. Which would make little noise and mostly during normal office hours anyhow. You probably hear more noise from the speedway at owlerton, and the dogs barking at Niagra grounds.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The residential application was "Not Considered" which means that it was withdrawn by the applicant.

One would assume that this was based upon the officers' recommendation to refuse.

The application can still be re-presented for consideration at a later date.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The residential application was "Not Considered" which means that it was withdrawn by the applicant.

One would assume that this was based upon the officers' recommendation to refuse.

The application can still be re-presented for consideration at a later date.

 

The residential application is being re-presented on the 23rd May. I was wondering about the other application for the road bridge and footbridge.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...
According to The Star the housing has been turned down, and Menta are taking their ball home, saying that it is a ''package'' with the Snow Mountain proposals

 

yet another own goal by sheffield council, what a bunch of muppets.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

well if these has fell through thanks to the council well thanks for nothing guys...sheffield council are w**k....we wanted this..we wanted the new road structure...JeeZ Jan and co you really know how to screw a city up.......Leeds Manchestr and Doncaster all prosper thanks to your complete lack of vision and fore sight

Link to comment
Share on other sites

According to The Star the housing has been turned down, and Menta are taking their ball home, saying that it is a ''package'' with the Snow Mountain proposals

Since when has the sheffield star been the oracle? Every single story ever printed in the star which I have ever been involved with, and that is several, has been exaggerated to such an extent that it is unrecognisable from the actual facts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.