A group of concerned people in Fulwood have failed to prevent the development of four new houses in their area.

On Tuesday 30 April Sheffield City Council’s Highways and Planning committee voted in favour of a new development at 45a Brooklands Avenue that would mean the demolition of an existing bungalow to be replaced with four homes.

This has come after an application for construction on the site was denied twice, one in September of 2022 for five dwellings, and another in July of 2023 that is still in the process of being appealed.

Councillor Sue Alston, who represented a group of her constituents, said: “The neighbours and I are at a loss to understand what of significance has changed since then.”

The current application has had 42 objections and five letters of support.

The initial applications were refused on the grounds that there was a perception that the houses would encroach on the privacy of current residents and that there was no evidence that the use of the driveway would not cause noise and disturbance.

A local resident said: “These issues have been dismissed rather than resolved.”

Reasons for local objections include a lack of visibility on the narrow entrance way, the belief that the development of the area counts as over development, as well as the impact of surface run off considering the slope on which the development is taking place towards Whitfield Road.

Helen Johnson, a highways officer for the council, said: “From a highways perspective, I don’t think there is any justifiable reason to refuse the application.”

Another concern for locals is the impact on biodiversity, with many hedges and shrubs already having been removed.

Cllr Alston said: “To mitigate the damage a large number of measures would need to be taken.”

Amendments made during the council meeting to the application offer to combat this, with Cllr Roger Davidson asking for the driveways to be made permeable, and Cllr Mike Chaplin asking for the installation of swift bricks.

As it stands the area is expected to experience a 46.1% habitat loss due to the development.

According to the survey taken in 2021, there are currently no badgers or protected species living on the plot, however another survey will need to be carried out.