Sheffield city councillors have voted unanimously to protect trees growing on the former Hepworth factory site in the Loxley valley.
The council’s Planning Committee confirmed a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) covering a half-mile stretch of the valley bottom.
The TPO will also protect historic trees growing alongside Storrs Bridge Lane. This is the road that drops down to the old refractory works from Loxley Road.
Many of the trees in the valley bottom have grown alongside the abandoned old factory buildings.
The buildings have mainly stood empty since production of refractory bricks ended in the 1990s.
The city council recently refused planning permission for a township of up to 300 homes on the site.
But Patrick Properties Strategic Land, who own the site, have appealed against the decision.
Their appeal will be heard at a planning inquiry in April that is expected to last ten days.
Why did the council decide to issue the TPO?
Council officer Jack Foxall presented a report to today’s Planning Committee setting out why the TPO was necessary.
He said the trees were of significant local amenity value and suitable for protection.
And he said they were now under possible threat from potential future development.
His report said protection of the trees would “benefit the visual amenity of the local environment”.
Mr Foxall told the committee that Patrick Properties had objected to the TPO, but they had missed the closing date for representations.
Nonetheless, the council had considered the objection and had concluded the TPO was “fully justified”.
Councillors voted unanimously to accept the officer’s report and to confirm the TPO.
It applies to trees growing alongside the River Loxley through the factories, on the banks of Loxley Old Wheel dam and head goyt, on Storrs Bridge Lane, and near to some of the old buildings.
- Please click here to read or download the Tree Preservation Order
- Please click here to read or download the council officer’s full report
- Would you like to know more about what a TPO is? If so, please click here to read the official government guidance.
How will the future of the old factories be decided?
As we said above, Patrick Properties are appealing against the city council’s refusal of planning permission.
They will now present their evidence to a government Planning Inspector, who will decide whether to approve the appeal.
He will hold a hearing in April that is expected to last ten days.
Sheffield City Council will contest the appeal. Friends of the Loxley Valley are also taking part in the inquiry alongside campaign partners CPRE Peak District and South Yorkshire.
This means we will present our own evidence, and can question the evidence submitted by the developers.
But it also means we need to pay for planning experts and professional help to prepare our case and to present it effectively.
Will you help us to build our fighting fund?
We and our CPRE partners have launched a Save Loxley Valley fighting fund to raise the money we need to fight the appeal.
We are hoping to raise at least £15,000. We have set up a crowdfunding link for donations.
We know that this is a really difficult time for everyone in our community, but please donate to the fighting fund if you can afford it. Every donation WILL help us to make our case.
- Please click here to read more about our fighting fund appeal
- Please click here if you would like to make a donation now