2,000 objectors set for victory over suburb plan for new flats

ALMOST 2,000 people are opposing plans to build a new block of flats in the upmarket Sheffield suburb of Dore.

In a planning application that has attracted an exceptional and arguably unprecedented number of objection letters, agent DLP Planning has revealed proposals for 14 apartments in two blocks, along with car parking, to be built at 135 Dore Road.

The site in question is currently home to a single, detached house with a “substantially-sized” garden containing several trees, some of which are covered by tree preservation orders.

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The proposals are to demolish the house and build two identical blocks of seven apartments in its place.

Eight of the flats would have two bedrooms and six would have three bedrooms, while 31 parking spaces would be provided in a basement parking area.

When the plans were first submitted in February last year, 917 people submitted letters of objection to Sheffield Council, citing concerns such as the development being “out of character” in the area; causing overcrowdining in Dore, and also saying the apartments would set an “unwelcome precedent.”

More than 900 letters of opposition were then sent to the council again, when the blueprints were resubmitted with amendments in July last year.

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The objectors argued that the flats would still be “overbearing” and the design remained “inappropriate” and “out-of-scale.”

Since then, the plans have been submitted once again, with more alterations. However, the scheme has again attracted widespread opposition, with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg writing to Sheffield Council on behalf of his constitutents.

He says in his letter that there is a “strong feeling among local residents that the application should be rejected.”

City planners at Sheffield Council have come out on the side of the objectors and have advised councillors to refuse planning consent for the development at a committee meeting set to be held on Monday.

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In their report, the officers say the apartment blocks would be “out of keeping with the character of the area” and have an “unacceptable impact upon the street scene.”

However, at that same committee meeting on Monday, council members have been advised by planning officials to pass a separate and different application for the same site.

This application, for eight houses with garages, was originally passed some years ago and expired on Saturday, January 21.

However, Sheffield Council is now set to grant planning permission for the site once again.

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Compared to the 2,000 or so letters submitted in relation to the flats plan, just nine people have objected to the proposals for eight three and four-bedroomed detached homes, which have been submitted by Sheffield-based Wireframe Studios Ltd.

In his representation to the council, Coun Colin Ross says: “Since the original application was granted there have been significant changes to other properties surrounding the site, which mean that any approval of the application will be contrary to the planning policies laid down by Sheffield Counil.

“I have concerns regarding highways issues as there appears to be a lack of visitor parking on site, that would result in parking on Dore Road where there is a dangerous bend.”

He adds: “The development of the site has been the subject of considerable local opposition.”

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City planners, however, say that the “alterations or proposed alterations to neighbouring properties would not be considered to result in the scheme having a detrimental impact on neighbouring occupiers.”

Advising members to pass the planning application, they add that the scheme is “acceptable.”

Monday’s planning committee meeting begins at 2pm at Sheffield Town Hall.