Fairthorn ...contd

The importance of the Fairthorn development should not be played down. This building is there for the long term. Once structures like this go up they are there for good unless developers think of ways to maximise profit by knocking it down and planning something more profitable. And that would be even worse. I'm pretty sure from my dealings with property developers that the interests of the old people in the flats would come well down their list of concerns if they had other plans.

But the critical thing is the total failure of the Sheffield Council's planning process and its planning department to apply their own criteria. The whole thing is a mixture of muddle and incompetence and evasion making it vital that citizens demand the councillors hold the officers to account.

Sheffield's Unitary Development Plan is the key document which is supposed to inform all decisions. It is a national government requirement and it was the subject of considerable consultation and many many hours of meetings discussions and consultations. it says that:

‘In areas of high landscape value, protection and enhancement of the landscape will be the overriding consideration.
Development, which is permitted:
a in areas of High Landscape Value; or
b. on land conspicuous from Areas of High Landscape Value or the Peak National Park;
must protect, and wherever appropriate enhance the appearance and character of the Area of high Landscape Value and Peak National Park.

The original planning application for Fairthorn and also the subsequent retrospective application paid no heed to this and the planning processes in Sheffield are so feeble that nothing was done to prevent the appalling eyesore.

BEFORE

AFTER