Construction work is set to go ahead this summer to improve Hillsborough Park’s sporting and social facilities despite objections.

The plan is to improve and redevelop the current multi use game area (MUGA) of the park to accommodate to new padel and tennis courts, mini golf, an additional cafe and a new community hub.

With the project first discussed in 2016, the plans were passed at a planning and highway committee meeting on April 2 but were met with raised concerns in regards to accessibility for those with disabilities and the impact they could potentially have on the local wildlife and environment.

Plans for the new facilities, Credit : Sheffield Council

Leah Byatt from Save Our Parks and Friends Together charity attended the meeting and voiced her concerns that the park was meant to be protected from commercialisation due to it being protected by charity and how she felt the disabled community was being left out of the consultation process.

Miss Byatt said: “We have approached the council for two years to improve the ramp leading to the tennis court, which is covered in moss and has a crack down the middle, it is unsafe and we have been ignored. I work for Friends Together and despite us using the MUGA facilities regularly we haven’t been approached once.”

Friends Together is a local charity located across from Hillsborough Park providing support for those with disabilities.

The charity regularly uses the park for its disabled cycling group, and fears the alterations to the park may impact the group’s access to the space.

Councillor Mike Chaplin, who represents Labour in Southey, questioned the plans on accessibility and how the developments will accommodate to that community. He said: “All people should and can readily access all premises of the park.”

As well as disabilities, concerns were raised on how the developments would impact the local wildlife and their habitats within the park with the plans to cut down hedges to accommodate to the new facilities.

Coun Dianne Hurst voiced her disappointment in how she felt that local wildlife have been left out of the conversation and in the written plans.

She said: “I do think it is a reasonable development, but I am disappointed we are missing the opportunity to make things better going forward for wildlife. I would make a plea going forward as you are developing your ecological statements that you speak to local wildlife groups and take in their views.”

However, Isobel Wells, the project manager, reassured the council that wildlife and accessibilities were at the for front of her plans. The written plan stated improving the landscape to get the biodiversity in the area to a net gain of 500%, a new drain system to prevent future flooding and that the sports facilities are accessibly and up to sport England standards.

Ms Wells said: “I believe there is a real need to improve the facilities in this part of Sheffield, offering new sport and social activities for all ages and backgrounds. Sustainability and affordability are at the heart.”

Despite several concerns being raised, the council passed the plan and construction is set to begin in early summer but a date is yet to be confirmed.