A footpath linking Clarkehouse Road and Dorset Street in Broomhall is set to be closed while construction is carried out on a new research facility.

Plans to demolish existing buildings on the site and construct a new three-storey research facility for Translational Neuroscience for the University of Sheffield were approved by planners at a meeting of Sheffield City Council on 16 August.

The footpath running through the building site will be closed under the plans. 

The city council was authorised on December 19, 2024, under section 257 of the Town and Country Planning Act, to close the footpath on January 16, 2025. 

Following this announcement in the local press, the general counsel for legal services received one objection. 

A resident of Gloucester Crescent brought up some views concerning the alternative footpath, including that it gets muddy during the winter months, making it dangerous to walk on.

They said there is no active lighting, so the footpath feels dangerous to traverse. Finally, the path has a lot of discarded waste. 

Highways officers are seeking approval to refer the order made on January 16th to the Secretary of State. 

Mark Reeder, from the council, said: “The objection appears to refer to an existing unmade path that goes through Lynwood Garden and Inner City Nature Reserve and community space adjacent to the proposed development.” 

He added: “The alternative being offered is a new path that is being constructed as part of the university’s development and conditioned under planning permission. 

“This path will be hard surfaced and lit, and provided as a public right of way by the University of Sheffield.” 

There will be streetlights to illuminate the path after dark. 

Officers believe that the council will still be able to close the path on the basis of the committee that approved the order previously.   

This objection does not need to be referred to the Secretary of State, but if it gets referred and confirmed, it will take effect on the date on which notice of confirmation is published. 

Officers have contacted the objector twice to ensure they have the full picture of the proposal and reach a consensus. A notice and a plan were sent to the objector, but there has been no response. 

The issue still has not been resolved.