Church that attracted ravers could provide flats for students

A DERELICT Victorian church which has attracted squatters and illegal ravers is set to be transformed into student accommodation, if plans are agreed by Sheffield Council next week.

Objections to the scheme, which would create 98 student beds within the Grade II-listed Crookes Valley Methodist Church, have come from neighbours, former council leader Paul Scriven and the local Green Party.

Planning permission was granted in 2006 to convert the run-down church in Crookesmoor Road into 18 flats with 89 beds, and three years later a second set of plans were approved which would have seen a development of student flats with 63 beds.

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The applicant has said that those plans never went ahead owing to the cost of the conversion being “very significant”, and the impact of the recession.

However, new plans have now been submitted for 19 flats sleeping 98 students, which should be built in time for teenagers moving to Sheffield University in September 2013.

In the report set to be considered by councillors, city planners say: “The former church building has remained empty for many years, despite previous permissions for development, and as a result, the building has suffered from extensive vandalism, occupation by squatters and several illegal rave parties.

“The impact of such abuse and unauthorised use has caused considerable damage to the building, which has placed the building at serious risk of being permanently lost.”

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The report goes on to say that each of the 98 bedrooms will be en-suite, while there will also be a 24-hour concierge service and parking for around 100 bikes.

A total of 21 letters of objection have been sent to Sheffield Council in relation to the plans, compared with only one letter of support.

Bernard Little, from the Broomhill branch of the Green Party, said: “I have no wish to see this building deteriorate further.

“Instead, I would like to see the building refurbished to accommodate a lower-density mix of singles, couples and families alongside community-accessible meeting rooms.”

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Coun Scriven said: “The changes to the building will be so big and intrusive that the internal character of the building will be permanently lost.”

He added: “The community is one made up of permanent residents and students.

“The balance already is just about working.

“The further introduction of a ‘student block’ would undermine the balance, and not be in keeping with the policy of truly mixed communities.”

One neighbour told the council: “We already have more than enough students living in this area and local residents are getting squeezed out of what used to be a family residential area.

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“The continuing increase of student population has a negative impact on the local community, which students live alongside but do not contribute to.”

Planning officials have not recommended that the plans be either approved or refused, as an agreement with the developer on the issue of providing cash for affordable housing is still to be reached.

However, in their report the officers say: “The building has for many years now been the subject of vandalism and illegal rave parties.

“This is now an opportunity for the site to be suitably developed and thereby removing the opportunities for such illegal activities to take place.

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“On balance, the proposal does represents an acceptable development that will provide a positive uplift and investment in the area but, most importantly, the proposal will secure the long-term future of a prominent character Grade II-listed building that is currently at risk.”

A decision will be made by councillors at a planning board meeting next Tuesday, April 10.