A property developer has said it is “more relief than joy” after a two year battle against residents for his ambitious housing development was passed by Sheffield City Council. 

Residents living nearby the proposed site on Brooklands Avenue have expressed their concerns with noise, access, and loss of biodiversity if the properties were built. 

But the council voted on the application for the four houses at a meeting on Tuesday and the result was positive for the developer, James Hinchliffe.

Mr Hinchliffe said: “One of the houses we want to live in. So we want to be their neighbours and we’ve tried to get along.” 

During the consultation process there were 42 objections to the proposal. 

Cllr Sue Alston represented the upset residents at the council meeting where the decision was made and urged the committee to refuse the application. 

The original planning application was for five dwellings, however this has since been reduced to four, with the addition of a study or playroom.

Image: CODA Bespoke

Cllr Sue Alston raised the issue that a bed could be added to the supposed study or playroom, taking the property back to a five bedroom house. 

She also said: “Households with large houses of this type will often have at least two, if not three, cars. There is simply not space within the development for this number.” 

She continued: “I believe that most of the neighbours would accept a smaller development, with two to three smaller properties.”

One resident spoke at the recent meeting and claimed that their issues have just been dismissed, rather than resolved.

Cllr Mike Chaplin requested the use of swift bricks in each property for biodiversity mitigation. 

Sarah Hull, Planning Service, confirmed that no presence of protected species was found on site in a check conducted in August 2021. 

The narrow entrance way to the properties was also disputed as two cars cannot pass each other and there is limited visibility for pedestrians. 

However, it does meet Sheffield City Council’s guidelines of at least 4.1 metres wide and can fit a fire appliance through.