Minutes of Darnall Area Panel 19 May 2004
DARNALL AREA PANEL | ||||
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Meeting held 19th May, 2004, at the Living Waters Community Centre, Main Road, Darnall | ||||
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PRESENT: | Councillors Mary Lea (Chair) and Mohammad Altaf. | |||
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| Officers in attendance:- | |||
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| Andy Shallice | - | Area Co-ordinator | |
| David Curtis Chris Heeley Debbie Merrill | - ) ) | Head of Development Services Development Services | |
| Daniel Swaine | - | Committee Secretariat | |
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| Also in attendance:- | |||
| Richard Knight Sandy Smith Colin Townsley | ) ) ) |
Sheffield Airport Properties RPS | |
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1. | APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PANEL | |||
| Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Terry Barrow and Harry Harpham. | |||
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2. | SHEFFIELD BUSINESS PARK – “BLUE SKIES” PLANNING APPLICATION | |||
| Chris Heeley, Development Services, provided the Panel with a brief summary of the outline planning applications for the proposed mixed-use redevelopment of Sheffield City Airport, and he indicated that the proposals for the Airport were based on two separate planning applications for adjoining sites. One planning application proposed a mixed-use development, comprising office and light industry, storage, distribution and residential, with ancillary retail and leisure development. The second planning application proposed a small section of runway added to the east and the provision of an additional perimeter road, the repositioning and replacement of landing lights and revised aviation activities. It was anticipated that the proposals would redefine activity at the site, although the site’s redevelopment was a complicated issue. The Environmental Impact Assessment which had been conducted, provided a systematic analysis of the proposals in relation to the existing environment. | |||
| Arising from the information now reported, a number of questions were asked and Chris Heeley provided responses as follows:- | |||
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| · Activity at Sheffield City Airport and Heliport has, since the loss of scheduled passenger activity, concentrated upon business and general aviation, and the redevelopment of the site would allow a wider range of activity in respect of helicopter type aircraft, which might be used by scheduled or business charter operators and would also allow for greater overall helicopter use.
· The Environmental Impact Assessment had raised a number of issues and as the proposal for the "Blue Skies" development was in its early stages, the Council was committed to ensuring that effective consultation with local residents was undertaken. This process would help to ensure that concerns relating to the potential increase in traffic volume and a deterioration of air quality, and the potential noise nuisance arising from the site’s development were properly addressed. · The calculation of potential vehicular traffic arising from the site’s redevelopment was based on the proposed usage of the land at the site, and this process was consistent with national guidance relating to such planning applications, and by referring to the map contained within the non-technical summary, Chris Heeley provided an indication of the boundary of the proposed redevelopment and the green belt line. | |||
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| Chris Heeley acknowledged that the proposed redevelopment was a complicated issue which would require a great deal of work before any definite proposals for the site’s future could be finalised. He emphasised that work would continue between all appropriate partners with regard to the outline planning applications prior to full applications for planning permission being submitted to the relevant Council Planning and Highways Area Board. | |||
| Chris Heeley went on to introduce Sandy Smith, Richard Knight and Colin Townsley who provided further information on the proposed redevelopment of the Sheffield City Airport. Richard Knight stated that the proposed “Blue Skies” development was situated adjacent to the airport and the established business park and other developments along the purpose built Europa link. The development would be close to the Parkway, which was the major radial route, the ring road along Shepcote Lane and Greenland Road and Junctions 33 and 34 of the M1. It was proposed that the airport and heliport, with rotary and fixed wing facilities, would be retained on land totalling approximately 19.5 hectares, with the "Blue Skies" business park site extending to 19.5 hectares, and this involved the redevelopment of the airport site and would offer a mixed use development opportunity. The total area of the proposed development was a site of 39 hectares (96 acres). It was anticipated that the development of the site was likely to be phased over a 10 year period, dependent on market conditions, and the design of the site would provide access from both its western and eastern ends, and presented an opportunity to serve a range of development plots within the surrounding area. | |||
| Richard Knight circulated copies of the Non-Technical Summary for the "Blue Skies" development, and by referring to this document, he provided further information on the need for the development of the site, the process for the site selection, traffic and transportation issues, the air quality assessment, economic issues and socio-economic issues. Commenting further on traffic and transportation, Colin Townsley indicated that a full Transport Assessment had been submitted with the two planning applications and this included a forecast of potential traffic generated from the proposed development. Account was also taken of other planning applications for developments in the area and the potential traffic that these could generate. The Transport Assessment had analysed the traffic impact and identified the existing pedestrian and cycle route connections around the site. It also suggested how these could be improved to provide integration with nearby residential and shopping areas and railway stations. | |||
| It was anticipated that bus services already serving the site would increase with the potential patronage generated by the "Blue Skies" development and other substantial developments along the Europa Link. Overall, the traffic assessment concluded that the potential traffic impact could be suitably mitigated and that the site conformed to both national and local sustainability objectives in terms of the opportunity to use various forms of transport, aided by a constrained amount of parking provision. It was envisaged that a Green Travel Plan would encourage access by non-car modes, and in addition, there were no anticipated problems resulting from construction traffic as all the routes to the site were suitable for such traffic. | |||
| Richard Knight went on to provide further information with regard to aviation issues, employment opportunities arising from the sites development, and the provision of public transport. Arising from the information now reported, a number of questions were asked and responses provided by Coin Townsley, Richard Knight and Sandy Smith as follows:- | |||
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| · With regard to the aviation noise, Richard Knight and Colin Townsley referred to work which had been undertaken by a pre-eminent specialist in this area in order to assess potential aviation noise arising from the site’s redevelopment. Sandy Smith indicated that noise levels arising from aviation traffic at the site were well below the permitted limit. However, he acknowledged that this issue was a concern for local residents. | |||
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| · It was anticipated that the redevelopment of the site would provide employment opportunities for local people and Sandy Smith referred to the Community Engagement Plan, stating that the site’s redevelopment provided an attractive opportunity for investors, particularly due to the workforce potential in the South Yorkshire region. He acknowledged that effective planning would be required in order to ensure that any skills gap was addressed through the provision of training and this would help to ensure that local people fully utilised any employment opportunities arising from the site’s redevelopment. | |||
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| · Colin Townsley indicated that the potential traffic volume arising from the site’s redevelopment was calculated on the basis of the type, size and location of the proposed development and such calculations were developed in consultation with the Highways Agency and the Council’s Development Services in order to ensure that the figures were a proper estimate. | |||
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| · Sandy Smith indicated that the loss of scheduled passenger activity from the Airport was consistent with changes in the aviation market and the proposed redevelopment of the site would allow a wider range of activity, that was more consistent with market needs. | |||
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| · Richard Knight indicated that it was anticipated that premises within the business park would be designed in such a way as to be reflective of their status. However, consideration would have to be given to a number of factors, including cost, and the premises would have to be lightweight due to the site formerly being an open cast mine. With regard to the potential housing development, he indicated that discussions would continue with the South East Primary Care Trust with regard to the provision of primary health care facilities within the residential development. · With regard to nature conservation, Richard Knight indicated that a Phase 1 Ecology Survey had been conducted in March, 2003, which had found that the area of the proposed development did not include any habitats of significant environmental importance in terms of rare or endangered species. Referring to the map contained within the Non-Technical Summary, he indicated the site’s boundary and commented that it was envisaged that the impact of the proposed development on the landscape’s character would be of moderate significance. | |||
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| In conclusion, the Chair stated that the Council was committed to ensuring that effective consultation with local residents was undertaken and this process would enable local people to influence any proposals for the redevelopment of the site. David Curtis stated that the Council dealt with planning applications within the national planning framework to ensure that any recommendations were based on a balanced judgement. He added that the Council was committed to ensuring that the redevelopment of the site provided employment opportunities for local people and discussions would continue with all appropriate partners in order to ensure that this process was properly supported. | |||
| The Panel acknowledged that local residents had concerns about the proposed redevelopment of the site and it was envisaged that further consultation would be undertaken as the proposals for the site were developed. The Panel thanked Chris Heeley, Richard Knight, Colin Townsley and Sandy Smith for attending the meeting and answering questions. | |||
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3. | 70 ACRE HILL – DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS | |||
| Sylvia Hamilton, Chair of the Darnall Forum, indicated that Sarah Blakemore, Sheffield Wildlife Action Partnership had been unable to attend the meeting with regard to the development proposals for 70 Acre Hill. However, she welcomed comments on this issue and stated that she would communicate any such comments to Sarah Blakemore. | |||
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4. | DARNALL GREEN SPACES REGENERATION PROJECT | |||
| Sylvia Hamilton provided the Panel with further information with regard to the Darnall Green Spaces Regeneration Project. By referring to a display, which included photographs, she outlined the work that had been undertaken at a number of green spaces throughout the Darnall area, and she provided details of potential further improvements to a number of the sites. She added that the regeneration project provided a unique opportunity for local people to make improvements to green spaces throughout the Darnall area. | |||
| Commenting on funding, Sylvia Hamilton provided an indication of the Objective 1 funding available for the project, and the required amount of match funding to finance proposed improvements to green spaces in the Darnall area. In conclusion, she stated that the success of any of the activities within the project was dependent on the support of local people and she thanked a number of local community groups for the work they had undertaken to support the projects, particularly with regard to identifying matched funding. | |||
| The Panel noted this information. | |||
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5. | PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS | |||
| The following questions were asked and responses given:- | |||
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| Q. Could a progress report be provided on the future use of the site of the former Morrisons store in Darnall, particularly as a recent article in the national press had indicated that a number of Morrisons stores throughout the Country had been purchased by Sainsburys Ltd. | |||
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| R. The Chair stated that she was unable to provide details of progress on this issue. However, the Area Co-ordinator stated that his understanding from reading the national press was that the former Morrisons store in Darnall was not one of those which had been purchased by Sainsburys Ltd. | |||
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| Q. With regard to the concerns expressed at the Panel's previous meeting in relation to the inoperative streetlights in the subway at Darnall station and the associated community safety issues, could a progress report be provided? | |||
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| R. The Area Co-ordinator referred to discussions he had undertaken with officers from Street Force, which had indicated that it would not be feasible to situate lighting in the roof of the subway due to the potential risk of vandalism. However, a proposal had been developed for lights to be situated at each end of the subway and discussions would continue with regard to a potential pilot initiative to introduce lights into the subway floor. In response to a suggestion made by a member of the public that lights should be situated on the archways at either end of the subway in order to radiate light along the subway’s length, the Area Co-ordinator stated that he would refer these comments to the appropriate officers within Street Force. | |||
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| Q. A resident of Pearce Road, Darnall, expressed concern that the No. 91 bus service would be discontinued, and as a result, several elderly persons living on Pearce Road would be unable to use public transport. He enquired if the Area Panel could write to the Passenger Transport Executive, requesting that the route of the No. 6 bus service be altered to accommodate Pearce Road and therefore provide public transport provision in light of the termination of the No. 91 service. | |||
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| R. The Chair acknowledged the concerns now expressed and requested that the Area Co-ordinator, on behalf of the Panel, write to the Passenger Transport Executive regarding this issue. | |||
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6. | MINUTES | |||
| The minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 20th March, 2004 were approved as a correct record. | |||
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7. | DARNALL FORUM | |||
| The Panel received and noted the minutes of the meeting of the Darnall Forum held on 23rd February, 2004. | |||
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8. | DATE OF NEXT MEETING | |||
| It was noted that the next meeting of the Area Panel would be held on Thursday, 15th July, 2004 at 6.00 p.m. at a venue to be arranged. | |||
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