Countryside campaigners fight plan for homes on green belt

The Loxley Valley Protection Society has submitted an objection to Sheffield Council against the proposals for Chestnut Grove, which lies just off Loxley Road on land that is partially within the green belt.

Planning permission has already been granted for the conversion of the existing buildings into new homes, although the applicant has now submitted new plans, for larger extensions.

The proposals have proved controversial as Sheffield's green belt boundary runs through the site, meaning that part of it lies within the green belt and part of it is within an area designated for housing.

Sheffield Council's planning officers, who have recommended that the new plans should be approved, say the main difference between the old plans and the new is a larger extension to one of the proposed houses, which is outside of the green belt.

In a report by planning officers which is due to go before a planning committee meeting next week, they say: "Taking into account what has been allowed by previous approval, the proposal only involves a minor additional projection within the green belt that would not significantly impact on the character of the area, with the remaining change to the previous approval being within the housing area."

Local countryside campaigners, however, say that the amended plans should be refused due to the impact of the new houses on the area.

Bradfield Parish Council has also dubbed the development as "garden grabbing".

The Loxley Valley Protection Society, which also objected to the previous application, says that converting the buildings to one new house rather than two would be "more appropriate."

Jan Symington, from the Loxley Valley Protection Society, said: "This site has already seen the development of two substantial houses with ancillary car ports and hard standing, making the extensions proposed from the outline an overdevelopment.

"The outbuildings in question, when seen on the existing outline proposal, are very modest in size. However, they grew into what is now presented as the full application, which has been extended out of all proportion.

"The development itself impinges into the green belt, and it is felt the green belt to the rear should also be protected during the building phase, to stop it being used at any point for dumping of soil, building materials or heavy plant.

"This, regrettably, has not occurred on a nearby site, where a

designated green open space now resembles a builder's yard."

City planners, however, say that the plans should be given the go-ahead and it is "not considered reasonable" to protect the green belt land during the construction process.

They say: "The scheme involves the reuse and extension of existing buildings, some of which fall within the green belt. The design of the extensions would be compatible with the existing character and built form of the area and location within and on the edge of the green belt.

"The scheme is considered to be sensitive to its locality and high quality. The impact on surrounding residential amenity is considered to be acceptable and would not detract from living conditions currently enjoyed by surrounding residents."

A final decision on the plans is set to be made at a meeting of

Sheffield Council's north and west planning board, to be held at Sheffield Town Hall at 2pm on Tuesday, August 31.