Autumn view of the old Hepworth factory site

Sheffield-based housing company unveils new plans for 60 homes on the old Hepworth factory site

A Sheffield housing company is developing new plans for around 60 homes on the old Hepworth factory site. They've set up a website to explain their thinking, and they hope to submit a planning application later this year,

The Sheffield-based housing company Sky-House has launched new plans for the regeneration and redevelopment of the redundant Hepworth factory site in the Loxley valley.

Sky-House propose to build around 60 single-storey dwellings in a way that cleans up the largely derelict site.

They claim this will “ensure the beauty and tranquillity of the valley is preserved for future generations to enjoy”.

They say their aim is “a national exemplar that Sheffield can be proud of”.

The new proposals follow the rejection of the earlier scheme by the site owners Patrick Properties to build 300 houses.

Sheffield City Council refused planning permission for the 300 houses. The scheme was then rejected by a Planning Inspector following an appeal by Patrick Properties and a five-day planning inquiry hearing.

The Planning Inspector ruled in 2021 that development on that scale would cause serious harm to the Green Belt setting. He also questioned the sustainability of the development.

Friends of the Loxley Valley (FoLV) opposed the earlier development and took part in the planning inquiry alongside CPRE Peak District and South Yorkshire.

There were also nearly a thousand objections to the original scheme.

You can see full details of the inspector’s ruling in our earlier news post here: https://friendsoftheloxleyvalley.com/2021/08/11/friends-of-the-loxley-valley-welcome-planning-inquiry-decision/

What are the details of the new scheme?

Details of the new scheme are still emerging. Sky-House have told FoLV that they are now beginning “pre-application” discussions with Sheffield City Council to determine what might be acceptable on the site.

This is with a view to submitting a detailed planning application towards the end of this year.

FoLV have met Sky-House and the site owners Patrick Properties. We have told them why we believe the site is so sensitive, and why we think local people feel so strongly about it.

We have urged them to consult as widely as possible and to listen to a broad range of opinions before applying for planning permission.

FoLV also urged them to spell out their thinking and to make their ideas public so that everyone can have their say. They have now done this on a website they launched this week: https://loxleyvalley.co.uk/

The proposals have also been summarised in a story on The Star website published today: https://tinyurl.com/3twya665

What happens next?

FoLV will consult its membership as things progress. We also trust that Sky-House will consult the many people and organisations who offered views on the earlier planning application.

We hope they will listen carefully to a wide range of opinions, and that these will be reflected in a carefully considered planning application.

Once a planning application is submitted, everyone will have the right to read it and to send their views to planning officers before councillors meet to decide whether to approve it.

At this early stage, we think it’s really important that everyone takes the opportunity to have their say.

7 comments

Loxley valley is a fantastic wildlife corridor for birds, bats and other mammals. The loss of habitat would be devastating . And the process of doing the work/ building catastrophic for habitat disruption /loss . I do not feel the area needs more unaffordable housing. More social housing within the city Is what is needed . The roads around malinbridge / Loxley can not cope with more traffic which that would create. It is already one of the heaviest traffic polluted areas in sheffield!

The proposal is totally wrong for this location. It would be an isolated, car-dependent community of 60 houses and perhaps 120 cars that would blot and contaminate the picturesque Loxley valley, would further burden already overstretched local services and would add to the pollution and congestion of the busy Loxley Rd/Malin Bridge area. And that following years of disruption and noise from construction.

I think there are quite a few issues here. And I think the solution is still a long way off. First, the site is derelict. It’s also contaminated. It desperately needs restoring. Second, the building of houses, whilst paying for the costs of restoration, is not the solution – not without creating impacts further down the valley. Third, an isolated community that has no existing infrastructure is reliant on cars for work, for social purposes and for shopping. All this puts increasing pressure on the roads leading into and at Malin Bridge. When traffic builds up it soon becomes grid-locked. Fifth, pollution. We’re creating a healthier environment in the City Centre through an exclusion zone but, what, is it then OK for Malin Bridge and Hillsborough to get even higher levels of pollution? Finally, transport. Public transport in the area is the worst on record. We should be creating affordable and sustainable housing only in areas where reliable and regular public transport either exists or is part of the development plan. I’m not in favour of any more housing in the valley: I shall oppose this latest plan.

Margaret Young

The Loxley Valley needs to be left alone. The area is not derelict it has merely returned to nature. We do not need 60 houses with in excess of 120 vehicles to add to the already congested area.
There is no public transport and local schools medical centres and other infrastructure is already insufficient for the population of the area.
The building work alone will create noise and traffic nuisance and have a negative impact on wildlife.There is no need for more expensive houses in this area efforts should be made to build affordable housing in areas with established infrastructure not in an area where no such infrastructure exists.Pollution will increase due to increased traffic in an area with already poor air quality.
This is the wrong scheme in the wrong place and must not be allowed to go ahead.

Barbara Hartley

I thought this had been thrown out a few years ago. The main road is already quite busy and where are the doctors, dentists and schools for the extra people?

I am absolutely opposed to this proposal on all levels. First 60 houses, then …who knows how many. Yes the current site is derelict and dangerous but why do they think the only solution is to build houses!! It’s just money making for the company. I agree with previous comments that it will only add problems to an already congested area with traffic. Not to mention the lorries and construction traffic coming to and from that area to build them. This area is so rich in wildlife which will be destroyed forever if the plans get approved. Why can’t it be turned into something that everyone can enjoy and learn from. An educational wildlife and nature reserve for all. Money talks though doesn’t it!!

I am disgusted that these housing companies are STILL pushing to build unaffordable housing on this site just to line their pockets even more! As people have mentioned before this could be so much more than an unnecessary housing estate… as mentioned above, the disruption this will cause in the process of building will be immense and will take years to complete. Sky house have been building in Oughtibridge valley for a few years now and still not finished. This will massively damage the area, but they don’t care about that.

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