Broomhall News

For over 4 years, Broomhall Cosmopolitan (a sub group of Broomhall Forum) has been meeting with Sheffield City Council, local landowners, key stake holders and the community at large, to push their vision of a "Cosmopolitan Centre" at the heart of Broomhall.

The vision

The vision is a mixed-use redevelopment scheme that would regenerate the area around the shopping centre and Upper Hanover Street. It includes opportunities for training, employment, business and community facilities as well as residential and retail developments.  The City Council is a key player because it owns 0.35 hectares of the 0.5 hectare site (see map).

Community representatives have always acknowledged the economic realities of property development, but have worked hard to see that the people of Broomhall benefit from any potential regeneration.   

In 2006 the City Council approved a Master Plan to deliver such benefits.

Planning application

But now the group's hard work is being compromised by a planning application by Jonathan Merricks, one of the 5 landowners, for 24 flats in a 1x4 story block, mainly of one bed flats rather than affordable family homes. The scheme takes in a small proportion of council land and sterilizes the rest of the site.  Of itself the development will be of little benefit to Broomhall.

Despite sitting round the table with council officials for 4 years, the council has backed down on the promise of full consultation prior to formal planning application.  We recommend you object to the planning application (see details below). 

Better alternative

With the agreement of three land owners (including Jonathan Merricks) Broomhall Forum has now commissioned its own architects to come up with a better design to increase the number of homes and maximize the receipts from the sale of council land.  The Council has promised that these receipts will be invested in environmental improvements and in a new shopping centre.  Read the next edition of Broomhall News in January for the new design.

The planning application can be viewed on the council's website - applications online - reference number 07/04152/FUL. or at Howden House. Be sure to take a look and see how this development could affect you.

Attachment

» Download: map.jpg (119 Kb)

The Atkins Report can be downloaded below. Copies also available from the Forum Office (347 Exeter Drive). Comments welcome by 18th January 2008.