Developers announced regeneration plans for the old Hepworth Refractories site which raised local discussion after previous ideas for the brown belt faced historically huge rejection.

The Sheffield housing company Sky-House proposed their plans to regenerate a well known old factory site in Loxley this week.

The plan is to develop 60 homes on the derelict area, which could cost up to £1.5m to complete.

The firm describe the homes will look like popular resorts. David Cross, of Sky-House compared the development to ‘Centre park style homes.’

Additionally, they plan for the site to not only contain homes, but sports facilities, shops, pedestrian lanes and an open community pond in the hopes to make the development beneficial and sustainable for the area.

If the regeneration scheme is approved by the Sheffield City Council, the company will begin its project with a multi-million pound clean up of the old factory site.

The site, known as Storrs Bridge Works was last occupied by Hepworth refractories site , which has not been in use for around 40 years.

Although neglected, the site remains very sensitive to the local community, with its close proximity to natural features such as River Loxley and has also become a popular place for urban exploring.

According to the new website made my Sky-House, the Loxley Site development is one that ‘takes care of the environment and makes the community a better place for all different kinds of people to live.’

The announcement has caught the attention of environmental community groups, such as Friends of the Loxley Valley and locals due to the controversy of previous plans.

In 2021, a scheme to develop 300 homes on the brown belt received almost 1000 rejections following a campaign ran by the joint effort of locals, environmental groups, and non approval by many councilors.

Despite the appeal by Patrick Properties , the development plans were denied and was determined a win for the Loxley site which sits only a short distance from Sheffield’s border to the beloved Peak District.

Christine Gilligan , Hillsborough Ward Green Party councilor and a member of The Friends of Loxley Valley committee described the 2021 proposals as ‘unsustainable and unacceptable.’

The controversy surrounding prior efforts to regenerate the site means new ones have already sparked debate.

Attitudes towards the plans are mixed and locals have shared their opinions on what has been showed so far. Specifically, 60 houses has been received more positively than the 300 homes proposed last time.

Richard Hakes, another member of the Friends of Loxley committee asked: “How do we ensure the developers promising everything and delivering nothing doesn’t happen? 60 houses are still 60 houses with all the car, sewage etc. problems. It will be interesting to see how this develops.”

The environmental group, which took over from the former Loxley Valley protection group has been successful in their campaigns over the years.

In January 2021, they were involved in stopping an old Victorian house Ash House on Loxley Road from being demolished and replaced with two modern 5 bedroom homes.

While in February 2021, the group set up a Save the Loxley Valley fighting fund to fight the appeal of the 300 home plan which would have meant the deforestation of historic trees growing alongside Storrs Bridge Lane. 

As new information emerges, ideas will be watched closely by community groups, locals and councilors alike and are all encouraged to have their say by the group committee.

Sky-House will continue to release new information about the scheme and discuss the development with Sheffield City Council.

To find out more information: Sky House Friends of The Loxley Valley The Loxley Valley Development

To have your say: https://loxleyvalley.co.uk/survey/