Residents likely to be snubbed on objections to garden homes

Sheffield Council originally refused permission for the homes two years ago but the developers took their case to a planning inspector who overturned the decision.

Since then there has been no movement but a fresh application has now been lodged with alterations to the types of houses planned for the site in Dore.

Residents have accused those behind the scheme of "garden grabbing" and say the new houses proposed by builders are larger than those included in the 2008 blueprints.

Neighbours have written to the council with a series of concerns, including damage to protected trees, a loss of privacy, inadequate car parking and access problems.

The application shows five detached houses in what is currently the garden of 79 Dore Road, which is described by planning officers as a "substantial, detached house".

Proposals show the five new houses being accessed from a drive which runs from the north-eastern corner of the front garden along the boundary of the existing property.

Local councillor Keith Hill has also objected to the plans, saying there are "significant changes" to the last application won on appeal and claiming the new houses are "too big".

A letter from the Dore Village Society has also been lodged which says: "This is backland development which impinges on the amenity and privacy of adjoining owners rear gardens.

"The scheme is out of character with this part of Dore Road and the vehicle access will damage trees. The design statement says there is a bus service on Dore Road. There is not."

Earlier this year, the Government issued new planning guidance to local authorities which reclassified private gardens as "greenfield" where before they were "brownfield".

This has made it much more difficult for developers to win permission for houses in gardens, and was issued as a result over concerns about so-called "garden grabbing".

But Sheffield Council planners say in a report it would be impossible to apply the new ruling to the Dore Road development because of the approval given in 2008.

The report, which will be considered by the authority's city centre, south and east planning and highways area board at a meeting today recommends approval for the homes.

Officers say: "Revised national guidance was issued on June 9, 2010 and an important part of this was that it reclassified private individual gardens as greenfield sites.

"However, this revised guidance does not mean that all development in gardens is unacceptable. Members should be aware that there is a previous planning approval."

Addressing the other objections, officers say that none of the points raised are sufficient reason to reject the amended housing scheme or the single track access road.

Their report says: "The siting and quality of design of the proposal is acceptable. The external appearance of the houses is traditional but their is no clear architectural form that dominates the area.

"The houses would be screened from surrounding development to the rear, but would not have a significant impact on Dore Road because they would be set so far back into the site.

"There would be no significant impact on the character of the area and the access and parking arrangements would be acceptable."

The planning board meets today at Sheffield Town Hall at 2pm. The meeting will be open to the public.