318 apartments at 10 Summerfield Street, Sheffield

What was proposed

The application proposed 318 apartments in two buildings, with commercial space, communal areas, parking, landscaping and a public riverside walkway.

“Proposal Phased development for: Erection of 318 apartments in a 12 storey building, and an 8-10 storey building for Class C3, with Use Class E on the ground floor, and provision of riverside walkway, landscaped public realm, internal and external communal amenity space, cycle and car parking, access and other associated works…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The former garage site lies between Pomona Street, Summerfield Street, Brook Place and the Porter Brook, within a mixed residential and office area.

“The application relates to a parcel of land located along Summerfield Street which was the former Gordon Lamb Garage site. The site is bound by Pomona Street to the north, Summerfield Street to the east, and Brook Place apartments (fronting Napier Street) to the south, with the Porter Brook dissecting the site, running from the northeast corner to the southwest corner. On the opposite side of the Porter Brook to the north are the Porterbrook2 apartments.”

“The site is located within a Fringe Industry and Business Area as defined by the adopted Sheffield Unitary Development. The Porter Brook Conservation Area runs along the northern boundary of the site, following the riverbanks of the Porter Brook.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Earlier permissions allowed mixed-use and residential development, with Brook Place built but the other proposed blocks not started.

“Planning permission has previously been granted under application 16/01362/FUL for the erection of 7, 8, 9 and 10-storey buildings comprising 150 student cluster units (447 bed spaces), 237 studio/apartments, retail space (Use Class A1) and cafe/restaurant (Use Class A3), with new access, car parking accommodation and landscaping works, including works to the Porter Brook embankment.”

“This application is seeking full planning approval for a new scheme occupying the area of the site previously proposed for blocks A1, A2 and A3, however PBSA is no longer proposed, with a build to rent private residential scheme now proposed. This is proposed to feature a total of 318 units comprising of one-bed, two-bed and studio units. Block 1 proposes a 12-storey building which sits at the junction of Summerfield Street and Pomona Street.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the housing, brownfield redevelopment, design, amenity, transport and riverside benefits acceptable, subject to conditions and a legal agreement.

“The proposed scale, massing, design and materiality are all considered accpetable and will postively contribute to the surrounding street scene. There are heritage assests in the form of the Porter Brook Conservartion Area which hugs the river running through the site, and also in the wider area, and it is consdided that there is less than substainal harm created by the proposals.”

“The living conditions for future occupiers are acceptable in terms of outlook, and amenity standards when combined with the shared amenity areas, both indoor and outdoor. Although some apartments will not meet the NDSS requirements, the Council do not currently have an adopted policy requiring this. Furthermore, the departure from those standards is modest and supplemented by high levels of shared amenity spaces.”

Officer report

What people said

Objectors cited overdevelopment, height, overshadowing, privacy, loss of light, congestion and wildlife, while river supporters broadly backed the scheme and requested improvements.

“The area is already overdeveloped and congested, with driving difficult at all times of the day, this will further cause disruption. • The 12-storey block is out of portion with Porterbrook2, and it will overshadow it with the previous scheme only 5-storey in height. • There is a small communal garden at the rear of Porterbook2 which will be overshadowed and dominated by the new block. • Overdevelopment of the site through these new buildings.”

“Broadly support the scheme. • Biodiversity net gain should be to both the river and land environments. • Treatments to the entrance should form visual continuity and match the rest of the Porter Brook Trail. This is normally a Sheffield Riverside Archway, (but might not be possible as fire engine access needed at Summerfield entrance) but should be at Pear Street/Napier entrance. • Railings should be the same as the others along the Porter Brook Trail.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An individual speaking in support of the application addressed the committee.

What members changed

Members voted to add cycle and foot access to the public route condition and legal agreement, and to add a directive about electric cycle charging.

“83c.5 Councillor Henry Nottage moved that both cycle and foot access be added in to Condition 34 and the Section 106 Heads of Terms. Councillor Marieanne Elliot seconded the motion which was passed by a show of hands.”

“83c.6 Councillor Richard Williams moved that a directive regarding provision of electric cycle charging points be added. Councillor Henry Nottage seconded the motion which was passed by a show of hands.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee granted planning permission conditionally for the phased development, including the amended public access condition and electric cycle charging directive.

“83c.7 RESOLVED:- That an application for approval of planning permission be GRANTED, conditionally, for the reasons set out in the report and supplementary report, and including the amended Condition 34 and the directive regarding electric cycle charging, for the phased development for: Erection of 318 apartments in a 12 storey building, and an 8-10 storey building for Class C3, with Use Class E on the ground floor, and provision of riverside walkway, landscaped…”

Minutes