Residents facing new battle over site at centre of apartments row

RESIDENTS who successfully fought plans for a development of flats on a former industrial site close to their homes may now see a "retirement village" built in its place.

An application for 201 apartments in three blocks was first lodged for the site in Sheffield last year, but it attracted immediate opposition from people living in the area.

The plans, which showed buildings of six, five and four storeys, were withdrawn, but planning officers had already decided that the scheme was not suitable for the site.

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A report revealed the flats scheme would have had "harmful impacts" on residents, including parking problems and road safety issues connected with the increased traffic.

Since then the site, which is accessed from Troutbeck Road, off Sheffield's busy Abbeydale Road, has remained empty but has now attracted developers' attention again.

Blueprints for the retirement village submitted by Newcastle-based architects Alston Murphy Associates show two separate nursing homes, one specialising in dementia care. This building would cater for 70 people, while the second home, which would have 80 beds, would look after people with more general nursing care and residential needs.

Developers also want to build 31 sheltered accommodation flats and provide a so-called special needs independent living unit and landscaped grounds for their residents.

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The development site, which was home to an engineering firm for many years, lies alongside the main railway line between Sheffield and Chesterfield and is close to two major supermarkets.

Tesco has lodged a recent application to extend its store in nearby Archer Road and provide a bigger car park with provision for a park and ride service from the store.

A series of objections have been lodged to the retirement village proposal, with former city councillor Patricia White voicing concerns over construction traffic and visitors' cars.

Lib Dem councillor for the area Sylvia Dunkley has also written to planners to object and said she had concerns about the size of the proposed development and its density.

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Coun Dunkley said: "The proposed development is unacceptable and out of character in the surrounding residential area. There are insufficient car parking spaces given the number of visitors.

"Additional traffic movements will be significant, and will cause problems for Troutbeck Road residents and at the junction with Abbeydale Road, where there is standing traffic at certain times of the day."

In a report to be considered by Sheffield Council's city centre, south and east planning board next week, planning officers reveal that residents have made a series of objections.

They include concern that the plans only show 84 parking spaces in the retirement village, a number which, it is argued, will not be able to cope with the number of staff, residents and visitors.

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There are also worries about the safety of the access from Troutbeck Road, which is currently subject to residents'

parking on both sides.

A call has been made for permit parking if the village is given the go-ahead.

Despite planners rejecting a scheme for flats on the site, it has been decided that the latest application is acceptable and councillors will be advised to give it their permission.

In their report officers say: "The outline proposal is considered to be acceptable in terms of impacts on the local highway network in terms of traffic movements and parking.

"It would have an acceptable impact on the amenities of occupiers of residential dwellings along Troutbeck Road and Abbeydale Road."