Home
Hepworth campaign
Forum
Noticeboard
Cornmill facelift
Park and ride work begins
Loxley Road spring clean
 

Green Belt victory over Pinegrove

The Pinegrove building from Wisewood Dam The Pinegrove building from Wisewood Dam

A government inspector has thrown out plans for a housing estate on the old Pinegrove country club site, marking a vital win in our fight to protect the valley's Green Belt.

Planning inspector Dannie Onn said the 58 new houses would harm the character and appearance of the valley and the "visual amenity" of the Green Belt.

"The residential development would dominate views along Myers Grove Lane, giving the impression that the city was encroaching upon the countryside and increasing urban sprawl," he said.

Mr Onn said there was no strategic need for housing outside the existing built-up area. He ruled that developers Capricorn Homes had not demonstrated any special circumstances that would justify an exception to normal planning rules.

He also referred to the Loxley Valley Design Statement, saying it had been drawn up by the local community and was "a material consideration of some weight".

"Its guidelines include that development should not damage important views in and into the Loxley Valley, and that new buildings should be constructed in local materials" he said.

Mr Onn's ruling follows a public inquiry held earlier this year. Local groups gave evidence at the inquiry, and urged Mr Onn to uphold the council's original refusal of planning permission.

The derelict main building The derelict main building

"This is a tremendous victory which sends an important signal about the importance of Loxley Valley's Green Belt to local people and Sheffield as a whole," said John King, planning officer at CPRE South Yorkshire.

Peter Wood, secretary of the Loxley Valley Protection Society, said the decision clearly showed that Green Belt policy was still strong enough to protect locally valued countryside.

"This is also an important precedent in terms of future battles we are facing in the Loxley Valley, in particular the plans for new housing at Loxley College and the Hepworths site - both of which are in Green Belt land," he said.

Pinegrove facts

  • Pinegrove was a private country club until it closed in June 2004
  • The buildings were gutted by fire shortly after the club closed. The cause of the fire has still to be established
  • The club was built on an old tip that remains polluted and unstable

Other main stories...

Loxley Road speeding blitz

Mobile safety cameras are being deployed on Loxley Road in an attempt to tackle persistent speeding. More...

Corn Mill restoration

The run down Malin Bridge corn mill is finally to get a makeover. It is to be turned into flats, but with strict controls to protect the old building and preserve the historic water wheel. More...

 

© www.loxleyvalley.com 2006