07
May
2026
Friends of the Loxley Valley object to Hepworth site planning application

Friends of the Loxley Valley object to Hepworth site planning application

Friends of the Loxley Valley have today submitted an objection to the current planning application to build 73 houses on the old Hepworth factory site in the valley bottom.

We recognise that Sky-House are attempting to deliver an environmentally friendly scheme in keeping with the exceptionally sensitive site. We met them several times to be appraised of their thinking before they submitted the planning application.

But we have concerns and questions. We are not yet convinced that the scheme will adequately safeguard its Green Belt riverside setting, which is surrounded by mature woodland and a Local Wildlife Site.

Our concerns are set out in a detailed set of comments that we have submitted to the Sheffield City Council planning officer who is assessing the planning application.

You can read the planning application and our response on the city council planning portal website – the planning application reference number is 26/00453/FUL. You can also download our document here.

Why we are raising concerns

The new planning application is much more modest than the 300-dwelling suburban housing estate that was rejected by a Planning Inspector five years ago.

But we need to be convinced that it overcomes the Inspector’s main concerns, i.e. that it will not harm sensitive Green Belt countryside, that it will safeguard biodiversity and wildlife, and that it will address the remote and inherently unsustainable location.

Sky-House say they can achieve these goals. But our detailed reading of the many planning application documents has left us with concerns and unresolved questions.

We have told the planning officer that we do not feel able to support the scheme unless these concerns are resolved.

Key areas of concern and uncertainty are as follows:

  • We would welcome convincing evidence that the development will not harm the Green Belt by encroaching into the countryside. Although the development has fewer buildings than last time, it will still sprawl over a wide area of the valley and be closely adjacent to the river.
  • The new homes will be set in areas of private leasehold woodland. The planning application says there will be strict conditions to prevent residents developing these areas. But it is not clear how these will work, or how they will be enforced. These private areas would run along the whole riverside. They appear to be at odds with the need for a riverside “buffer zone” for wildlife.
  • The site is not in a sustainable location. It is remote from local settlements and services. Public transport is poor, and routes for walking or cycling are long, steep, and on 60mph roads. We feel the planning application needs convincing measures to address these shortcomings.
  • The planning application proposes a shop, café, floodlit padel court, and an unspecified number of riverside parks and picnic areas. Such things would attract traffic and visitor numbers. We worry that they would be at odds with keeping the riverside quiet and undisturbed for wildlife.
  • We have the same concerns about light disturbance from cars, streetlights and large glazed windows. The planning application proposes mitigation measures, but we feel these lack detail.

The above is of necessity a very condensed summary of these points. Please do refer to our full document if you would like to know more.

We have said in our objection that we would be prepared to reconsider our position if our concerns are addressed before the council reaches a decision on the planning application.

Who else is raising concerns?

Regrettably, FoLV is not the only organisation that is not yet convinced by the scheme.

The Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust and the South Yorkshire Bat Group have both submitted objections.

They say that the planning application is not supported by adequate assessments of biodiversity and wildlife, and that it will cause ecological harm. FoLV does not have their expertise, but we share their view that effective safeguards are paramount.

The Environment Agency has also tabled a detailed objection raising concern about loss of biodiversity. It also requires changes to flood control measures and how the River Loxley flows through the site.

What happens next?

The city council planning officer must now assess all comments that have been submitted about the scheme – for and against.

We would expect the officer to then draw up a report summarising the pros and cons, and to recommend whether councillors on the planning committee should approve or reject it.

Friends of the Loxley Valley chairperson Joanne Lee said the FoLV committee have worked hard to scrutinise the application in detail.

“We have shared with members our reading of the extensive documentation uploaded to the Planning Portal and we have sought their views at a members’ meeting,” said Jo.

“The position we have arrived at is also informed by discussion with local people and key organisations.

“We recognise that this is a complex application which the developers intend to be exemplary. At this time, the evidence in the documentation leaves questions about the measures they say will prevent harm to this very special place.

“As a Friends group, we take very seriously our aim to help care for the Loxley valley and when necessary to protect and defend it. We hope that the points we have raised in our objection will be taken account of by the planning officer and that they will press the applicant to address the areas of significant concern.”

  • If you wish to discuss the planning application with FoLV, please email us at info@friendsoftheloxleyvalley.com
  • You also have the right to submit your own comments to the city council planning department (planning application reference number is 26/00453/FUL). The official deadline for doing this is now Friday, May 15th, although comments can be submitted at any time before the planning application is determined. 

Posted by admin, 0 comments
27
Apr
2026
New heritage and nature signs in the Loxley valley

New heritage and nature signs in the Loxley valley

Friends of the Loxley Valley are celebrating the installation of new heritage and nature signs along the valley bottom footpath between Malin Bridge and Rowell Bridge.

We’ve put up interpretation boards at key points on the path so that people can learn more about the water power remains and nature along the valley.

The signs feature maps of the footpath. And they have photos and artwork of the wildlife and heritage you’ll see as you wander along the river.

We’ve placed them next to the river by the Lidl supermarket, at the start of the footpath near Malin Bridge, and at Rowell Bridge.

We’ve also put up four posts marking the remains of historic industrial sites along the path. QR codes on the signs and posts link to the “Water Power” pages on this website, where you can learn more about the heritage sites and view old photographs of them.

How we created the signs

The beautiful signs have been created by local graphic designer Anna Pethven. They include some of her own drawings of wildlife and plants.

We also had invaluable help from the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, and from the Rivelin Valley Conservation Group who inspired us with the signage they’ve put up along the River Rivelin.

Funding came from generous grants from the Bradfield Parish Council Participatory Budget and from the Sheffield City Council North Local Area Committee, plus a contribution from Friends of the Loxley Valley members.

We’d also like to thank the Bradfield Parish Council archivist Malcolm Nunn for sharing his encyclopaedic knowledge and photographic archives.

Thanks too to Tony Ball of the South Yorkshire Industrial History Society for his kind permission to reproduce images and photos from their excellent book on the history of Sheffield water power.

The idea for the signs came from a talk at the FoLV AGM by local history author Peter Machan. Peter wondered why there were no information boards in the valley to enlighten visitors about its fascinating history. Thank you for getting us moving Peter!

We hope that you like the signs and the web pages, and that you find them interesting and useful.

The photograph at the top of this page is of the new sign at Rowell Bridge, with some of the people who made it happen. From left to right are Elesha Searles of the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, Nick Blaney and Diana Conheeney from Friends of the Loxley Valley, and Bradfield parish councillors Tom Vickers and David Chinchen.

Posted by admin, 0 comments
20
Oct
2024
How we hope to tell the Loxley valley water power story

How we hope to tell the Loxley valley water power story

Friends of the Loxley Valley hope to win funding from Bradfield Parish Council to help tell the story of the valley’s fascinating water power heritage.

We plan to put up interpretation boards and finger posts in the valley to increase awareness of the historic water wheel sites that thread all the way along it.

The signs will also showcase the beautiful landscape along the valley. And they will tell how nature has threaded through the old water power remains to create outstanding habitat for wildlife.

They will also feature “QR codes” linking to multimedia online materials that will tell the story in greater detail.

We’ve asked for £4,500 for the project from “participatory budget” funds that Bradfield Parish Council has set aside for community initiatives.

The winning bids will be decided by a vote of parishioners who attend an open public meeting. This is at Worrall Memorial Hall on Thursday 24th October.

All the organisations who’ve made funding bids will make presentations at the meeting. And people who go along will have chance to ask questions before they cast their votes.

The meeting runs from 6pm to 8.30pm.

We’re urging Friends of the Loxley members and supporters to go along and support us on the night!

Thank you so much if you’re able to make it.

What’s special about water power in the Loxley valley?

The old water wheel sites in fast-flowing rivers like the Loxley and Rivelin played a vital role in Sheffield’s industrial history.

Weirs across the rivers harnessed the water for numerous grinding shops and forges. They were packed all the way along the valleys.

Many of the water power sites in the Loxley were rebuilt after the tragic Sheffield Flood of 1864, using updated engineering techniques. They now complement the earlier, smaller water wheel sites in the Rivelin.

Taken together, the two valleys contain a set of water power remains of international historical significance. Several of the Loxley valley sites contain listed buildings. The Little Matlock water power system is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

All the water power sites in both valleys also feature on the South Yorkshire Local Heritage List, following our successful bid last year.

Why do we need signage in the Loxley valley?

Sadly the Loxley lags some way behind the Rivelin. There’s no signage on the ground to tell the valley’s story.

The Rivelin Valley Conservation Group have worked hard to put up interpretation boards and finger posts explaining the rich industrial heritage.

We think this literally signposts why the Rivelin valley is special. And we think it helps to express local pride and sense of place.

We’d like to learn from their success and do something similar.

Joined up Heritage Sheffield are backing our funding bid. They’ve sent us a letter of support.

They say readily accessible information is important to help people to understand and celebrate Sheffield’s heritage.

Now we need your support too! Please vote for us on Thursday evening if you can.

  • A reminder: the participatory budget meeting is at Worrall Memorial Hall on Towngate Road, from 6pm to 8.30pm on Thursday, 24th October. You must live in the Bradfield Parish Council area if you wish to go along and vote.
Photo of a Rivelin valley interpretion board

We’ve drawn inspiration from signs and finger posts along the neighbouring Rivelin valley.

Photo of a Rivelin valley finger post
These posts in the Rivelin valley include QR codes that take people online for more detail about water power history.

Posted by admin, 3 comments
05
Jul
2024
Friends of the Loxley Valley aim to beat Himalayan Balsam

Friends of the Loxley Valley aim to beat Himalayan Balsam

Friends of the Loxley Valley are appealing for help to beat back the rapidly spreading Himalayan Balsam that is threatening to dominate parts of the local riverside landscape.

We’re asking you to let us know if you spot the invasive plant taking a toehold in the valley. This will help us to organise “balsam bashing” sessions to stop it getting out of control.

We hope to remove as much of the balsam as we can. This will help to stop it becoming dominant and stifling native plants along the Loxley valley. But we need your help to do it!

What is Himalayan Balsam?

Himalayan Balsam, or Indian Balsam, is a non-native plant that was introduced to the UK about 200 years ago.

It’s also sometimes known as “jumping jack”. This is because of its explosive seed pods that can fire seeds up to seven metres from the parent plant.

Each of these plants can be between 6ft and 10ft tall. And each plant can produce up to 800 seeds! Seedlings start growing rapidly from early May and flower in late August or early September before the seed pods develop.

Its tall canopy blocks out light, stifling smaller native plants.

Bees and other pollinators are attracted to balsam blossom in preference to other flowers. This reduces plant diversity and ultimately affects the food chain for local wildlife.

Balsam also alters soil conditions. It’s shallow rooted, and once it dies back there’s less root matter to bind the soil. This increases the risk of erosion and the silting of watercourses.

And it blocks access to paths and waterways, costing time and money to clear it from affected areas.

Small wonder that it’s an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to plant or cause balsam to grow in the wild.

How can we tackle Himalayan Balsam in the Loxley valley?

Photo of Himalayan Balsam growing in the Loxley valley

Himalayan Balsam growing in the Acorn Hill woods near Low Matlock.

Balsam is now prevalent along the River Don. It’s spreading rapidly as the climate gets warmer and wetter. And it’s gaining a hold in tributaries such as the Loxley and Rivelin. It spreads downstream.

We need your help to identify places where Himalayan Balsam is growing in the Loxley valley.

Once we know where it is, we hope to undertake “balsam bashing” sessions in August and early September before it sets seed. We may also do a few trial runs at other times of year.

We hope to work with Riverlution and the Don Catchment River Trust who can provide equipment, expertise and skills to tackle more inaccessible areas.

In the short term – before the end of July – if you spot any please note the location and let Nick Blaney, who is a FoLV member and is coordinating the survey, know on nicbla62@gmail.com.

Ideally we need either an Ordnance Survey grid reference or a what3words location. If you have a smartphone, OSLocate is a great piece of free software and of course there is the what3words app. If you can, please also take a picture.

How can I identify Himalayan Balsam in the Loxley valley?

You can identify it very easily in the flowering season from its bright pink or purple flowers.

But it’s also very distinctive during the growing season with its large serrated leaves that grow at right angles to the leaves above and below them.

It can grow between 6ft and 10ft tall. See pictures of both states at the bottom of this post. There is also a great video to help identification on youtube.

If you feel it is safe to do so and you are confident in your identification, you can remove balsam yourself. Pull from the base to get the shallow roots out of the ground, snap the stalk between the roots and the first node, and leave the plants in a dry space, well above the waterline and potential high water level. Please do not leave on the footpath itself though.

Please still take photos before and after, and let us know the location via the email address above.

Thanks very much for your help in this!

Photo of Himalayan Balsam flower

Himalayan Balsam in flower

Photo of Himalayan Balsam leaves
Himalayan Balsam leaves
Posted by admin, 0 comments

Follow us on Facebook

Friends of the Loxley Valley