13 houses at Norton Lane, Sheffield

What was proposed

The application proposed 13 houses with new vehicle and pedestrian access, internal roads, parking, cycle stores and landscaping.

“Proposal Erection of 13 dwellinghouses and associated infrastructure, including new vehicular and pedestrian access, service roads and landscaping works…”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The roughly half-hectare field lies between the primary school, Norton Lane, Waterfall Close and Summerhouse Drive, near Oakes Park.

“The application site is a roughly square 0.5 hectare portion of a field between Norton Free Church of England Primary School to the west, Norton Lane to the south and Waterfall Close and Summerhouse Drive to the north. The site is fairly flat with a approximate 1.5m height increase from the northern boundary to the centre and then dropping back down again to the southern boundary. There is a second field between the site and Norton Water Tower to the east.”

“The southern part of the field which extends to opposite the junction with Norton Lane and School Lane is not part of this application.”

Officer report

Planning history

There was no relevant planning history on the site, and the proposals were amended following consultee and officer feedback.

“The proposals have been amended during the course of this application in response to consultee and planning officer feedback.”

“There is no relevant planning history on this site.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended conditional approval, finding the proposal compliant with relevant policies and its benefits greater than its limited adverse impacts.

“This planning application, for thirteen houses and a new access point and internal road, on land off Norton Lane, is compliant with planning policies concerned with the principle of the development and all other relevant disciplines, and where further information or mitigation is required to ensure compliance, conditions provide ample opportunity to secure this.”

“The main benefits of granting permission would be: - Provision of 13 houses to contribute to the City’s housing land supply - This housing being delivered within a designated Housing Area - The economic benefits associated with the construction and occupation of the development - The 10% mandatory net gain that would be secured The adverse impacts of granting planning permission would be limited to the introduction of some built development on an undeveloped site within an…”

Officer report

What people said

Objections concerned green space, wildlife, drainage, traffic, safety, design, amenity, infrastructure, heritage, flooding and affordable housing.

“Councillors Ayris and Mahroof have sent a joint letter of objection raising the following concerns - Development on undeveloped, green and open land, of high public amenity, which links Conservation Areas and complements eco-infrastructure at Graves Park - Development of Urban Green Space, which the Councillors reaffirm their support for - Cumulative impact of this and other developments on local infrastructure: - Local schools being oversubscribed and at risk of not having…”

Officer report

Who spoke

Three people, including a councillor, spoke against the application after the public returned to the meeting.

What members debated

Members considered the application, reports, planning policies and representations, and approved an amendment restricting construction working hours and days.

“14b.6 The Committee considered the report and recommendation having regard to the development plan, the National Planning Policy Framework and other relevant considerations as summarised in the report and supplementary report, now submitted and also having regard to representations made.”

“14b.7 The Chair moved that Directive 3 be amended to reduce working hours on site to 8am to 5pm with no Saturday/Sunday or bank holiday working, the final wording to be agreed by the Chair in conjunction with the Planning Officers. The amendment was seconded by Councillor Andrew Sangar. On being put to the vote by a show of hands, the motion was passed.”

Minutes

The vote

The proposal received six votes for and six against, so the Chair used a casting vote.

“14b.9 On being put to the vote by a show of hands, the voting stood at 6 for and 6 against the proposal. The Chair then used his casting vote and it was:”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee granted planning permission conditionally for the 13 houses and associated infrastructure, including the amended working-hours directive.

“14b.10 RESOLVED:- That an application for approval of planning permission be GRANTED, conditionally, for the reasons set out in the report and supplementary report, including the amendments to Directive 3, now submitted, for the erection of 13 dwellinghouses and associated infrastructure, including new vehicular and pedestrian access, service roads and landscaping works at land adjacent to Norton Free Church of England Primary School, Norton Lane, Sheffield, S8 8BL…”

Minutes