Sheffield city councillors have today REJECTED plans for a township of up to 300 homes in the Loxley valley.
The council’s Planning and Highways Committee voted unanimously to refuse permission for redevelopment of the old Hepworth refractory works.
The old factories have stood empty in the Loxley valley bottom since Hepworth plc ended production in the 1990s.
New owners Patrick Properties wanted permission to demolish the factories and replace them with a township of up to 300 homes.
But the 12 councillors at today’s planning meeting voted unanimously to reject the plans.
They backed their officers’ report recommending refusal of outline planning permission.
The officers’ report set out strong reasons for refusal. They said:
- The proposal would damage the openness of Sheffield’s Green Belt and harm the special character of the Loxley valley;
- The development would be unsustainable. It had too few on-site services to support it, and existing local services would be inaccessible;
- Building on a flood plain was not justified by wider sustainability benefits to the local community;
- There was too little information to judge the impact on biodiversity, landscape, climate change, design quality, pollution and the remediation of derelict land.
Friends of the Loxley Valley welcome the verdict
The decision follows a long campaign by Friends of the Loxley Valley.
We regretted having to fight the application, and would have preferred to work with developers for a consensual solution.
Some of the old factory buildings are derelict and do need attention.
But much of the site has returned to nature, and some of the buildings remain in use.
And the site is in an exceptionally sensitive place, in an area of special character and on the boundary of the Peak District National Park.
We would like to thank everybody who took the time and trouble to object to the planning application.
Objectors included our two local MPs, local councillors, the Peak District National Park Authority, CPRE South Yorkshire, the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, and numerous other local groups.
And around 900 local people also wrote to the council to express their concerns.
What happens now?
The developers may choose to appeal against the decision. They also have the option of going back to the council with a more acceptable proposal.
We hope they will choose to work with local people to do something green, sustainable and outstanding, in keeping with this unique Green Belt site.
But for now, we’re very pleased and relieved. We’re going to raise a glass or two to celebrate, and we hope you do too. Cheers!
