Objections to new proposals for £46m city regeneration scheme

Dransfield Properties already has full planning permission for its £46m development in Stocksbridge, which is set to include a Tesco supermarket, offices, restaurants and other shops as well as a town centre car park and garden.

Work is scheduled to begin on the site next year, but another planning application has now been submitted to Sheffield Council which seeks to amend the previous proposals.

More than 80 letters of objection and 36 letters of support have been submitted to the authority in relation to the new application.

Opposition to Dransfield Properties’ plans has come from bodies including the Stocksbridge and District History Society and the Steel Valley Way Group.

The latter claims that the regeneration scheme would block its “traffic-free green corridor link” through Stocksbridge and Deepcar, which would “enable residents and visitors to enjoy a safe and pleasant route through the valley.”

A total of 73 letters have also been to Sheffield Council saying that “more effort” should be made to enhance the proposed right of way and provide a “green corridor and multi-user route”.

Seven people, meanwhile, have raised concerns about the anticipated closure of the Ford Lane bridleway and footpath.

Those in support of Dransfield’s plans say that the right of way through the valley at present is “neither attractive or safe” and the new plans look “more suitable”.

Another letter of support said that Stocksbridge town centre is “lacking the retail trade necessary to support its residents” and any additional facilities would be welcomed.

The retail property director for Dransfield Properties, Andrew Malley, claimed that the changes to the previously-agreed plans were relatively minor. He added: “The new application reflects detailed design development and, although some of the changes are minor in nature, they require a new application.

“We have reduced some elevational heights and introduced three smaller shop units with green roofs, as well as re-organising the access to the new office development to avoid any conflict with traffic accessing the Tata site.

“With regard to the public rights of way our development plans will create an extra 1,029 metres of public rights of way and do indeed deliver the earlier stated aspiration of the Steel Valley Way Group for a safe flat route along the bottom of the valley which is traffic free and goes through attractive public realm into a green corridor.

“There is also a second multi-user route which we are creating as part of the overall devel- opment, delivering vastly-improved public access to this part of the valley.

“We believe our proposals more than satisfy the interested user groups and should be considered with the other major benefits of this regeneration project, not least of which will be the creation of 900 new jobs.

“In light of this and the positive feedback we have had from so many stakeholder groups we are surprised by the Steel Valley Way Group’s continued opposition to our proposals.”

City planners in Sheffield have recommended that councillors approve the amended plans at next week’s committee meeting.

They say that the redevelopment would “aid the physical regeneration of the area” and a “substantial amount of vacant industrial land would be re-developed”.

They add that the scheme would also improve the local road network and there is a need to “enhance Stocksbridge as a district centre” with a “superstore to broaden the range of goods available”.

The planning meeting begins at 2pm Tuesday next week at Sheffield Town Hall.