Fresh attempt to win support for 120 homes at university site

The development, which has attracted nearly 300 objections over two rounds of public consultation, was turned down by councillors and again by a planning inspector on appeal, on the grounds that it could have a detrimental effect on the Broomhill Conservation Area.

However, applicant Miller Homes has now made amendments, reducing the number of homes from 127 to 119, and planning officers at Sheffield Council have recommended that the development is approved at a meeting on Monday.

Objections have come from Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, in his capacity as MP for Sheffield Hallam, council leader Paul Scriven and organisations including Sheffield Conservation Advisory Group and the Broomhill Action and Neighbourhood Group (BANG).

The conservation advisory group slammed the plans, saying they demonstrate a "misunderstanding of Victorian architecture and inappropriate use of detailing."

Coun Scriven, meanwhile, said the development would "destroy views, be out of character with the area and be detrimental to the character of the conservation area."

The application site takes in the former seven-storey Tapton halls of residence as well as stone buildings behind the halls and Sheffield University's walled Experimental Garden.

While the halls of residence would be pulled down, The Lodge, Coach House and Haddow House would remain, two of them being converted into flats, and one remaining as a house. The landscaped garden would also remain unaltered.

Originally, the plans were for 69 two and three-bedroom flats, 10 flats within Haddow and Coach houses and 48 four-bedroom town houses, creating 127 homes in total

But, following the inspector's decision, the number of town houses has now been cut from 48 to 40, by replacing four terraces of three houses with two pairs of semi-detached homes.

During the first public consultation, which related to the original scheme for 127 houses, 237 letters of objection were received, with opponents saying the houses were too tall, there was not enough parking provision and the "overdominant" development would have an unacceptable impact on both the Broomhill Conservation Area and the surrounding roads.

MP Nick Clegg was one of the objectors, saying that the Experimental Garden should not be developed and that the gardens should be a "community and friendly resource."

In the second round of consultation, after the plans were amended, a further 48 letters of objection were received.

Opponents said there were too many two-bedroomed flats, Broomhill "deserves a higher standard of development", the scheme was "still out of character" and there would be problems with overlooking.

However, Sheffield Council's planning officers have said that the plans should now be approved, as the only aspect the planning inspector found unacceptable – the 12 houses in four blocks of three – has now been altered.

In the report set to go before Monday's meeting, the planners say: "The revised scheme here is for two pairs of semi-detached houses that closely relate to existing traditional Victorian and Edwardian villas.

"This is considered to be appropriate development that does not harm the Broomhill Conservation Area.

"The amenities of existing residents would not be harmed."

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