Planning in Sheffield

Schools

Provision of sufficient modernised education facilities will include: a. the redevelopment and refurbishment of all secondary schools and significant investment to upgrade some primary schools; b. new education provision for ages 14-19 in the north-west and Mosborough/Woodhouse; c. two new Special Education Needs schools in the North-East Urban Area; d. expansion of schools, to be funded by developers where there is insufficient local space for demand arising from new housing developments.

Health Centres

Primary Health Centres will be developed in local communities with the highest level of needs or with changing or growing needs. Additional health facilities will be provided, subject to funding and need materialising: a. in the City Centre, to meet city-wide needs, particularly of vulnerable people, as well as of workers, residents and other users of the centre; b. in areas of large new housing development, including Stocksbridge/Deepcar, Darnall and the City Centre, to be funded by developers where there is insufficient local space for demand arising from new developments.

Education and Leisure in the Upper Don Valley

New education and training uses and leisure that would not be appropriate in the City Centre or district centres, will be consolidated and encouraged in the Livesey Street area alongside existing business uses and where the two types of use would be compatible. The pedestrian environment and links with Hillsborough Centre will be improved.

Cultural Facilities in the City Centre

The retention of arts and cultural facilities will be supported and new uses that relate to cultural activity will be encouraged, particularly in the Cultural Hub area around Tudor Square.

The Universities

Provision will be made for the two universities to consolidate and expand their teaching and research operations within and adjacent to their existing campus areas.

The Boulevard of Sport

In the area around the Don Valley Stadium, sports-related leisure will continue to be the principal land use. Other large-scale leisure uses, if they cannot be located in the City Centre will be located here. A wide range of transport measures, including Travel Plans, will be employed to maximise the accessibility of the area for visitors and workers and ensure that air quality does not suffer. Measures will include: a. improved public transport services for visitors b. measures to contain parking at levels that are sustainable c. a high-quality, safe pedestrian environment between facilities.

Improvements to Gateway Routes into and through the City

Gateway routes with priority for improvements will be: a. Lower Don Valley routes, A6109, including Attercliffe Common and Attercliffe centre, and at landmark locations on the M1 junctions and east of the Wicker b. Penistone Road and landmark locations on Shalesmoor c. Inner Ring Road and landmark locations at Park Square d. the railway line between Heeley and Blackburn Meadows.

Tall Buildings in the City Centre

Tall buildings are appropriate in the City Centre where they: a. help to define identified gateway sites, b. mark an area of civic importance, c. mark a principal activity node or a key route, d. form the focal point of a vista or enhance the city skyline e. re-inforce the topography f. support the vision for City Centre quarters g. reflect the strategic economic vision for the city.

City Centre Quarters

The distinctive and fundamental roles of different 'quarters' of the City Centre will be consolidated and strengthened, namely: a. Heart of the City, including the New Retail Quarter – the prime office and retail streets and main civic, arts and cultural buildings, with high-quality public spaces. Shopping and visitor facilities, in particular, will be improved; b. Cathedral Quarter – currently the main professional, legal and financial district, strengthened by the introduction of a richer mix of uses including residential, leisure and retail; c. Cultural Industries Quarter – an area with a wide mix of uses and established as the main location for the city's creative and digital industries, as one of the key growth clusters for the economy of the City Region; d. Sheaf Valley – an important gateway area and the academic focus for Sheffield Hallam University; e. The Moor – a linear retail area anchored by several major stores and the proposed location for the new indoor market, that also has considerable potential for mixed office and residential uses and will experience major changes; f. Devonshire Quarter – a thriving, distinctive and vibrant area with city living, niche shops, restaurants and bars and a variety of business uses with the City Centre's largest green space, Devonshire Green; g. St. George's – a mixed area that is an academic focus for the University of Sheffield, with complementary retail and business uses; h. St. Vincent's – a mixed business, residential and educational area with links to the University of Sheffield and the legal and professional quarter and including a number of manufacturing companies that will require sensitive attention; i. Castlegate – an area for a mix of uses including offices, housing, hotels and leisure, linking the Heart of the City with Victoria Quays, as a focus for mixed waterside uses – relocation of the central Markets will reduce the retail presence and create potential for the viewing of the Sheffield Castle ruins; j. Kelham/Neepsend – formerly dominated by industry but becoming a focus for new riverside housing and jobs with the Inner Relief Road as a catalyst to redevelopment – existing small businesses will continue to perform an important economic role for the City as a whole; k. West Bar – a mixed area of predominantly business uses, with a possible emphasis on the legal and financial professions, being located close to the Courts complex; also a location for new housing and a new neighbourhood centre and public space; l. Wicker/Riverside – a gateway location on the Inner Relief Road and key business area with new housing taking full advantage of the opportunities presented by the river. Complementary relationships, interaction and physical links between the Quarters will be promoted.

Design Principles

High-quality development will be expected, which would respect, take advantage of and enhance the distinctive features of the city, its districts and neighbourhoods, including: a. the topography, landforms, river corridors, Green Network, important habitats, waterways, woodlands, other natural features and open spaces; b. views and vistas to landmarks and skylines into and out of the City Centre and across the city to the surrounding countryside; c. the townscape and landscape character of the city's districts, neighbourhoods and quarters, with their associated scale, layout and built form, building styles and materials; d. the distinctive heritage of the city, particularly the buildings and settlement forms associated with: i. the metal trades (including workshops, mills and board schools) ii. the City Centre iii. Victorian, Edwardian and Garden City suburbs iv. historic village centres and the city's rural setting. Development should also: e. contribute to place-making, be of a high quality, that contributes to a healthy, safe and sustainable environment, that promotes the city's transformation; f. help to transform the character of physical environments that have become run down and are lacking in distinctiveness; g. enable all people to gain access safely and conveniently, providing, in particular, for the needs of families and children, and of disabled people and older people; h. contribute towards creating attractive, sustainable and successful neighbourhoods.

Offices in the City Centre

New large-scale and high-density office development will be concentrated in the City Centre in Priority Office Areas: a. in the Heart of the City and Eyre Street, particularly for prestige office accommodation b. at Moorfoot and Charter Row, particularly for headquarters and other high-quality offices c. the Digital Campus/Sheaf Valley areas in front of the railway station, particularly for digital, creative and knowledge-based businesses d. along the new northern Inner Relief Road and Tenter Street, particularly for professional, financial and legal services e. Castlegate, on the west side of Park Square, particularly for professional, financial and legal services. Major office development will be promoted and encouraged in these locations. Other uses that provide for active frontages and a vibrant street scene such as cafés, restaurants and leisure will be encouraged in small amounts. Mixed uses including a suitable proportion of housing may also be appropriate. Significant amounts of new office floorspace will also be located in other areas of the City Centre, including development as part of mixed schemes, together with housing where appropriate.

Locations for Manufacturing, Distribution/Warehousing and other Non-office Businesses

Manufacturing, distribution/warehousing and non-office businesses will be located in: a. the Lower Don Valley b. the Upper Don Valley c. other established areas within the main urban area, including the Sheaf Valley (Heeley area), the Blackburn Valley and Orgreave d. locations within each of the more outlying areas of Mosborough/Woodhouse, Chapeltown/Ecclesfield and Stocksbridge/Deepcar. Innovative new and expanding businesses (especially high technology manufacturing and knowledge-based services) will be promoted in areas close to centres of research, including locations near the universities, the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and the Children's Hospital, and Tinsley Park.

Manufacturing and the City Centre – Transition Areas

Manufacturing in City Centre transition areas should not expand where it would detract from the regeneration of the centre and it will be encouraged to relocate, providing suitable alternative sites and premises are available in the city. Transition areas include: a. parts of St. Vincent's area b. part of Kelham/Neepsend c. part of Wicker/Riverside d. most of West Bar e. the southern part of the Devonshire Quarter f. parts of the Cultural Industries Quarter.

Meadowhall

Around the Meadowhall centre, the predominant land uses will be for employment, including office development and non-office business uses. Housing may be included as part of a mixed-use development providing air quality and other environmental conditions can be made acceptable. The shopping centre will remain at around its present size and large-scale leisure uses that cannot be located in the City Centre or at its edge may also be located close to the Interchange. All new development around the Meadowhall Centre should be integrated with the existing development. A wide range of transport measures, including Travel Plans, will be employed to mitigate the transport impact of new development on the strategic road network and the new development and to reduce adverse impacts on air quality. These will include: a. improved public transport services for workers and visitors, including new bus rapid transit b. connections with the proposed park-and-ride site at Waverley c. restrictions on long-stay car parking, other than to serve park-and-ride services to the City Centre, and on other private non-residential parking levels d. the creation of a car club e. provision of the M1 Junction 34 Relief Road (Halfpenny Link). The scale and density of development will be consistent with the transport capacity created by these measures.

Tinsley Park

At Tinsley Park, the major land uses will be industry and warehousing/distribution, making particular use of rail freight facilities. Tinsley Park will also be a location for non-office business uses with other office development located only south of Europa Way. Public transport links to Tinsley Park will be improved and Travel Plans will be required for all new developments to ensure that air quality does not suffer and to enable sustainable forms of transport to be used, including: a. public transport services for workers b. connections with the proposed park-and-ride site at Waverley c. transhipment facilities and direct links to the rail network for freight d. vehicle fleets with low emissions of pollutants.

Attercliffe/Newhall and Parkway/Kettlebridge

Traditional and modern manufacturing and distribution will be located within Attercliffe/Newhall and Parkway/Kettlebridge and more sensitive uses that would prejudice such development will not be located here. Public transport links will be improved between these areas and the rest of the city, including surrounding neighbourhoods, to maximise accessibility for employees and reduce reliance on the private car.

Land for Employment and Economic Development

Land will be made available for office and industrial development, principally in existing employment areas. Suitable new sites will be safeguarded in identified industry and business areas as space is created through th

Jobs and Housing in Chapeltown/Ecclesfield

Business and industrial development will be located at Thorncliffe, Ecclesfield Common and Smithywood on brownfield land. New housing development will be limited to infilling and windfall sites within the existing residential areas and the surrounding countryside will be protected. The District Centre will be promoted as opportunities arise, through redevelopment, environmental improvement and measures to remove traffic that does not need to be in the Centre.

Jobs and Housing in Stocksbridge/Deepcar

Industrial land identified in Stocksbridge/Deepcar as surplus to operational requirements that could still provide employment and business opportunities for local people will be safeguarded for business development. New housing will be limited to previously developed land within the urban area. Opportunities will be taken as they arise to improve the environment of Stocksbridge District Centre and to enable its improvement and expansion when land becomes available.

Land for Employment and Economic Development

Land will be made available for office and industrial development, principally in existing employment areas. Suitable new sites will be safeguarded in identified industry and business areas as space is created through the demolition of existing premises. Sites will be released for alternative uses where industry or business would no longer be appropriate. A 5-year supply of each type of land for offices and industry, which would be available and free of major constraints, or could become so during that period, will be maintained at all times. This will comprise: a. 20 hectares for offices (use class B1(a)) b. 25 hectares for other businesses (use classes B1(b) and (c)). c. 100 hectares for general industry and storage/distribution (use classes B2 and B8 with associated B1(b) and (c)) and other sui generis general industrial/processing uses. Sites will also be allocated for a 10-year period and action taken to make them ready for development.

Business and Industry in the Upper Don Valley

Employment uses will be maintained and promoted in the North Neepsend/Hillfoot Riverside and Wadsley Bridge areas, including improvements to access and the local environment. Industrial and business uses will be promoted in the Upper Don Valley with significant access improvements including bridging the River Don from Middlewood Road.

Employment Locations in the North-East Urban Area

New opportunities for employment, education and training will be promoted at: a. Parkwood Springs Business Area; b. Woodside (along Rutland Road/Oakham Drive); c. Spital Hill; and by improved access to existing employment areas including the Northern General Hospital.

Blackburn Valley

Manufacturing, distribution and non-office business uses will continue be located within the existing business and industry areas of the Blackburn Valley. Environmental improvements to enhance walking and cycling access, biodiversity and physical attractiveness of the Valley will be emphasised.

Employment and Services in Mosborough/Woodhouse

New jobs will be provided: a. within established industrial and business areas at the east side of Mosborough; and b. at the edge of Crystal Peaks District Centre. Shopping provision at Crystal Peaks District Centre will be maintained at around its current size. Public transport services will be maintained and selectively improved, particularly to serve the needs of peak-period travel between Mosborough/Woodhouse and major employment areas elsewhere in Sheffield, primarily the City Centre and Lower Don Valley.

Business and Industrial Development on Brownfield and Greenfield Land

Priority for new business and industry development will be given to previously developed land over greenfield land and locations where it would also be accessible by public transport. No more than 4 hectares or 2.5% of all land developed over any five-year period, whichever is the lowest, will be greenfield land.

Locations for Office Development

Office development will take place in the following locations: a. the City Centre b. in accessible locations at the edge of the City Centre c. District Centres, on high-frequency public transport routes in urban areas and near Supertram stops (small-scale offices only) d. around Hillsborough and Crystal Peaks transport interchanges e. around Meadowhall f. Tinsley Park. Development in the City Centre and at its edge should include at least 65% of total office development in the city.

Offices in the City Centre

New large-scale and high-density office development will be concentrated in the City Centre in Priority Office Areas: a. in the Heart of the City and Eyre Street, particularly for prestige office accommodation b. at Moorfoot and Charter Row, particularly for headquarters and other high-quality offices c. the Digital Campus/Sheaf Valley areas in front of the railway station, particularly for digital, creative and knowledge-based businesses d. along the new northern Inner Relief Road and Tenter Street, particularly for professional, financial and legal services e. Castlegate, on the west side of Park Square, particularly for professional, financial and legal services. Major office development will be promoted and encouraged in these locations. Other uses that provide for active frontages and a vibrant street scene such as cafés, restaurants and leisure will be encouraged in small amounts.

Attercliffe/Newhall and Parkway Kettlebridge

Traditional and modern manufacturing and distribution will be located within Attercliffe/Newhall and Parkway/Kettlebridge and more sensitive uses that would prejudice such development will not be located here. Public transport links will be improved between these areas and the rest of the city, including surrounding neighbourhoods, to maximise accessibility for employees and reduce reliance on the private car.

Responses to Climate Change

Action to reduce the city's impact on climate change will include: a. giving priority to development in the City Centre and other areas that are well served by sustainable forms of transport; and b. promoting higher densities of development in locations that are well served by sustainable forms of transport; and c. promoting routes that encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport; and d. designing development to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions; and e. promoting developments that generate renewable energy; and f. reducing the volume of waste disposed of in landfill sites and generating energy from waste. Action to adapt to expected climate change will include: g. locating and designing development to eliminate unacceptable flood risk h. giving preference to development of previously developed land where this is sustainably located i. adopting sustainable drainage systems j. encouraging environments that promote biodiversity, including the city's Green Network k. designing development to minimise the relative heating of urban areas.

Climate Change, Resources and Sustainable Design of Developments

All new buildings and conversions of existing buildings must be designed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and function in a changing climate. All developments will be required to: a. achieve a high standard of energy efficiency; and b. make the best use of solar energy, passive heating and cooling, natural light, and natural ventilation; and c. minimise the impact on existing renewable energy installations, and produce renewable energy to compensate for any loss in generation from existing installations as a result of the development. All new buildings and conversions of existing buildings must be designed to use resources sustainably. This includes, but is not limited to: d. minimising water consumption and maximising water re-cycling; e. re-using existing buildings and vacant floors wherever possible; f. designing buildings flexibly from the outset to allow a wide variety of possible future uses; g. using sustainable materials wherever possible and making the most sustainable use of other materials; h. minimising waste and promoting recycling, during both construction and occupation.

Responses to Climate Change

The policy will be implemented through other policies in the Core Strategy (in particular, CS2, CS3, CS14, CS15, CS23, CS24, CS26, CS64, C65, CS67, CS68, CS70, CS51, CS53, CS54, CS55 and CS56).

Sustainable Design and Construction

All new buildings and conversions of existing buildings must be designed to: a. achieve a high standard of energy efficiency; and b. make the best use of solar energy, passive heating and cooling, natural light, and natural ventilation; and c. minimise the impact on existing renewable energy installations, and produce renewable energy to compensate for any loss in generation from existing installations as a result of the development. All new buildings and conversions of existing buildings must be designed to use resources sustainably. This includes, but is not limited to: d. minimising water consumption and maximising water re-cycling; e. re-using existing buildings and vacant floors wherever possible; f. designing buildings flexibly from the outset to allow a wide variety of possible future uses; g. using sustainable materials wherever possible and making the most sustainable use of other materials; h. minimising waste and promoting recycling, during both construction and occupation.

Renewable Energy and Carbon Reduction

Renewable energy capacity in the city will exceed 12MW by 2010 and 60MW by 2021. The Smithywood and Hesley Wood areas are potential locations for larger-scale wind generation though not to the exclusion of other sustainable locations. Where appropriate, developments will be encouraged to connect to the City Centre District Heating Scheme. Shared energy schemes within large developments or between neighbouring developments, new or existing, will also be encouraged. All significant developments will be required, unless this can be shown not to be feasible and viable, to: a. provide a minimum of 10% of their predicted energy needs from decentralised and renewable or low carbon energy; and b. Generate further renewable or low carbon energy or incorporate design measures sufficient to reduce the development's overall predicted carbon dioxide emissions by 20%. This would include the decentralised and renewable or low carbon energy required to satisfy (a). The renewable or low carbon energy technologies must be operational before any new or converted buildings are occupied. If it can be demonstrated that the required reduction in carbon emissions cannot be met through decentralised renewable or low carbon energy and/or design and specification measures, a contribution towards an off-site carbon reduction scheme may be acceptable.

Quality and Accessibility of Open Space

Safeguarding and improvement of open space will take priority over creation of new areas. Priority for improvement of open space and related sports and recreational facilities will be given to: a. district parks and open spaces, including the City Centre Sheaf Valley and Parkwood Springs; and b. areas that are more than 1200 metres from a district park or open space that both delivers a range of formal and informal recreational opportunities and is managed to nationally recognised quality standards such as Green Flag.

Quantity of Open Space

As opportunities arise, new open space will be created: a. where a quantitative shortage of open space per head of population is identified in the local area; b. where it is required for extending the City's Green Network.

Safeguarding of Open Space

Development of open space will not be permitted where: a. it would result in a quantitative shortage of either informal or formal open space in the local area; or b. it would result in the loss of open space that is of high quality or of heritage, landscape or ecological value; or c. people in the local area would be denied easy or safe access to a local park or to smaller informal open space that is valued or well used by people living or working in the local area; or d. it would cause or increase a break in the city's Green Network. Development that would still result in the loss of open space will only be permitted where: e. as soon as practicable, equivalent or better replacement open space would be provided in the local area; or f. the site is identified as surplus for its current open space function and: i. a proposed replacement would, as soon as practicable, remedy a deficiency in another type of open space in the same local area; or ii. it could not fulfil other unsatisfied open space needs; or g. the development would be ancillary to the open space and have a minimal impact on the use or character of the open space. Open space or sports and recreational facilities of importance beyond the city will be safeguarded and development or redevelopment will be permitted only where it would improve the quality of facilities provided in the city.

Open Space and Riversides in the City Centre

A network of informal, public open spaces in the City Centre will be provided and enhanced to cater for residents, workers, shoppers, tourists, students and other visitors. In particular, new spaces will be provided in the following locations: a. Nursery Street b. Market Square/Sheffield Castle c. St. Vincent's Park d. Porter Brook e. West Bar f. Sheaf Valley Park Improvements will be made to the environment and accessibility of all rivers and riversides and the canal and canal-sides, opening up culverted rivers and providing walkways where appropriate.

Parkwood Springs and the Parkwood Landfill Site

Over the medium to long term, Parkwood Springs will be developed into a City Park. Sport and leisure uses could also be located at Sheffield Ski Village if they are needed to support the development of sport and recreation facilities there.

Air Quality

Action to protect air quality will be taken in all areas of the city. Further action to improve air quality will be taken across the built-up area, and particularly where residents in road corridors with high levels of traffic are directly exposed to levels of pollution above national targets.

Flood Risk Management

The extent and impact of flooding will be reduced by: a. requiring that all developments significantly limit surface water run-off; b. requiring the use of Sustainable Drainage Systems or sustainable drainage techniques on all sites where feasible and practicable; c. promoting sustainable drainage management, particularly in rural areas; d. not culverting and not building over watercourses wherever practicable; e. encouraging the removal of existing culverting; f. not increasing and, where possible, reducing the building footprint in areas of developed functional floodplain; g. not locating or subdividing properties that would be used for more vulnerable uses in areas of developed functional floodplain; h. developing only water-compatible uses in the functional floodplain; i. designating areas of the city with high probability of flooding for open space uses where there is no overriding case for development; j. developing areas with high probability of flooding only for water-compatible uses unless an overriding case can be made and adequate mitigation measures are proposed; k. ensuring any highly vulnerable uses are not located in areas at risk of flooding; l. ensuring safe access to and from an area with a low probability of flooding. Where an overriding case remains for developing in a zone with high probability of flooding, development will be permitted only if: m. more vulnerable uses, including housing, would be above ground floor level; and n. the lower floor levels of any other development with vulnerable equipment would remain dry in the event of flooding; and o. the building would be resilient to flood damage; and p. adequate on and off-site flood protection measures would be provided. Housing in areas with a high probability of flooding will not be permitted before 2016/17.

Protecting the Green Belt

Countryside and other open land around the existing built-up areas of the city will be safeguarded by maintaining the Green Belt, which will not be subject to strategic or local review. Exceptionally, changes may be made to remove untenable anomalies where the change would not undermine the purposes or objectives of Green Belt in that area. Development needs will be met principally through the re-use of land and buildings rather than through expansion of the urban areas and villages.

Protecting Countryside not in the Green Belt

The green, open and rural character of areas on the edge of the built-up areas but not in the Green Belt will be safeguarded through protection as open countryside, including the following locations: a. to the east of Woodhouse b. to the south-west and north of Mosborough Village (at Mosborough Moor and Moor Valley) c. at the former Holbrook Colliery d. south of Stocksbridge (at Hollin Busk).

The Strategic Green Network

Within and close to the urban areas, a Strategic Green Network will be maintained and where possible enhanced, which will follow the rivers and streams of the main valleys: a. Upper Don b. Loxley c. Rivelin d. Porter e. Sheaf f. Rother g. Lower Don/Canal; and include other strategic corridors through: h. Oakes Park to the Limb Valley i. Gleadless Valley j. Ochre Dike Valley k. Shire Brook Valley l. Shirtcliffe Brook Valley m. Blackburn Brook Valley and its tributaries n. Birley Edge. These Green Corridors will be complemented by a network of more local Green Links and Desired Green Links.

Affordable Housing

In all parts of the city, developers of all new housing developments will be required to contribute towards the provision of affordable housing where this is practicable and financially viable.

Creating Mixed Communities

Mixed communities will be promoted by encouraging development of housing to meet a range of housing needs including a mix of prices, sizes, types and tenures, and a. providing housing for a broad range of smaller households in the City Centre and other highly accessible locations where no more than half the new homes in larger developments should consist of a single house type; b. requiring a greater mix of housing in other locations, including homes for larger households, especially families; c. providing new purpose-built student accommodation as part of a mix of housing development, with a mix of tenures and sizes of unit on larger sites, primarily in the City Centre and the areas directly to the north west and south of the City Centre; d. limiting new or conversions to hostels, purpose-built student accommodation and Houses in Multiple Occupation where the community is already imbalanced by a concentration of such uses or where the development would create imbalance.

Locations for Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Sites

Sufficient permanent sites will be made available to accommodate the caravans of Gypsies and Travellers residing in, or resorting to, Sheffield and Travelling Showpeople residing in Sheffield. The first priority will be refurbishment of existing pitches where necessary, to increase effective capacity. New sites for Gypsies and Travellers will be in areas where housing (Use Class C3) is an acceptable use, and will be subject to the same requirements as for other development in those areas. Preferred locations will: a. be within safe walking distance of essential services or high frequency public transport routes; and b. have good access to strategic road networks where being allocated for transit site provision. Sites for Travelling Showpeople will be in areas where any ancillary yards for business use would be acceptable. All sites will be well designed and landscaped to give privacy between pitches and between the site and adjacent users. Where sites contain work areas, use of these areas should not lead to unacceptable air pollution, noise or other nuisance or risk to health and safety to residents.

Housing in Attercliffe and Darnall

A mix of uses including housing, services and employment will be promoted around the canal between Attercliffe and Darnall and the extension of this development will be encouraged, as opportunities arise, in the direction of the City Centre. Public transport links will be improved between this area and the City Centre and to employment opportunities in the Valley.

Housing in the Upper Don Valley

New housing (including student housing and with a mix of tenures and sizes of unit) will be developed in areas of the Upper Don Valley that are close to the City Centre and the Infirmary/Langsett Road corridor.

Jobs and Housing in the Sheaf Valley and Neighbouring Areas

A mix of uses including employment will be provided for in the Sheaf Valley and neighbouring areas that makes jobs available for residents of south and south-west Sheffield seeking local employment: a. in the Lower Porter Valley, offices will be promoted, mixed with new housing including new purpose-built student accommodation as a secondary land use; b. the Bramall Lane/John Street area will be promoted as an area of transition with new residential development, including new purpose-built student accommodation along with compatible businesses and activities; c. the Queens Road corridor will be non-residential and will accommodate business and industry and large-format retailing and leisure outlets not appropriate to a City Centre or district centre location; d. in the Sheaf Valley, the existing business and industry areas will continue to provide for local jobs and enterprises.

Housing in the South-West Area

In South-West Sheffield, priority will be given to safeguarding and enhancing its areas of character. The scale of new development will be largely defined by what can be accommodated at an appropriate density through infilling, windfall sites and development in district centres and other locations well served by public transport.

Scale of the Requirement for New Housing

The requirement for new housing is as follows: a. an average of 1,025 net additional dwellings per year over the period 2004/05 to 2007/08 (4 years). b. an average of 1,425 net additional dwellings per year over the period 2008/09 to 2025/26 (18 years). Sufficient sites will be allocated to meet the housing requirement to at least 2020/21. A 5-year supply of deliverable sites will be maintained at all times.

Locations for New Housing

New housing development will be concentrated where it would support urban regeneration and make efficient use of land and infrastructure. In the period 2008/09 to 2020/21, the main focus will be on suitable, sustainably located, sites within, or adjoining: a. the main urban area of Sheffield (at least 90% of additional dwellings); and b. the urban area of Stocksbridge/Deepcar. After 2020/21, and before then as opportunities arise, additional housing growth will occur in parts of the city where significant change and regeneration are taking place. This will be primarily in the main urban area of Sheffield (with an emphasis on the Lower Don Valley and North East Urban Area) and Stocksbridge/Deepcar. In Chapeltown/High Green and in the larger villages of Oughtibridge, Worrall and Wharncliffe Side housing development will be limited to suitable, sustainable sites within the existing built-up areas. Outside the urban areas and larger villages, housing development will be limited to that which is consistent with policies for the Green Belt and countryside areas.

Affordable Housing

In all parts of the city, developers of all new housing developments will be required to contribute towards the provision of affordable housing where this is practicable and financially viable.

Maximising the Use of Previously Developed Land for New Housing

Priority will be given to the development of previously developed sites and no more than 12% of dwelling completions will be on greenfield sites in the period between 2004/05 and 2025/26. In the period to 2025/26, housing on greenfield sites will be developed only: a. in the Housing Market Renewal Area and other housing renewal areas where it is essential for the effective regeneration of the area and adequate open space would be retained to meet local needs; and b. on small sites within the existing urban areas and larger villages, where it can be justified on sustainability grounds; and c. in the Owlthorpe township; and d. in sustainably located larger sites within or adjoining the urban areas and larger villages, if annual monitoring shows that there is less than a 5-year supply of deliverable sites.

Priorities for Releasing Land for New Housing

The release of allocated sites will be phased as follows: Phase 1: to meet the housing requirement from 2007/08 to 2015/16 Phase 2: to meet the housing requirement from 2016/17 to 2025/26 The priority locations for new housing development are: a. housing renewal areas in the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder area; and b. other housing renewal areas; and c. the City Centre (but only where it would involve mixed-use development that would support economic regeneration). Sites in priority locations that are outside zones with a high probability of flooding and are free of other development constraints will be included in Phase 1 (up to, and including, 2015/16). Sites outside the priority locations will be included in Phase 2 unless: d. there would be insufficient sites in the priority locations to meet the net housing requirement; or e. there are overriding sustainability benefits associated with bringing forward a site earlier. If there are insufficient sites in the priority locations to meet the net housing requirement, the most suitable sites in other locations that are outside zones with a high probability of flooding and that are free of other development constraints will be included in Phase 1. Phase 2 sites may be released before 2016/17 if the development would not prejudice targets for the Housing Market Renewal Area.

Efficient Use of Housing Land and Accessibility

Housing development will be required to make efficient use of land but the density of new developments should be in keeping with the character of the area and support the development of sustainable, balanced communities. Subject to the character of the area being protected, densities will vary according to the accessibility of locations, with the highest densities in the City Centre and the lowest in rural areas. Density ranges for new housing development will vary, in decreasing order of intensity, according to whether a development is: a. within or near to the City Centre – at least 70 dwellings per hectare; b. within or near to Meadowhall or a District Centre – 50 to 80 dwellings per hectare; c. near to Supertram stops and high-frequency bus routes in the urban areas – 40 to 60 dwellings per hectare; d. in remaining parts of the urban area – 30 to 50 dwellings per hectare; e. in rural areas – 30 to 40 dwellings per hectare. Densities outside these ranges will be allowed where they achieve good design, reflect the character of an area or protect a sensitive area.

Housing in the City Centre

Further expansion of City Centre living, with a mix of tenures and sizes of unit, including affordable housing, will form part of a mix of uses: a. at Kelham/Neepsend and Wicker/Nursery Street b. between Netherthorpe Road and Edward Street c. between Netherthorpe Road and St. Vincent's Church d. at West Bar, north of the Crown Courts e. around Devonshire Green f. on upper levels along the Moor and in the New Retail Quarter g. around the Peace Gardens h. at Victoria Quays/Castlegate i. within the Cathedral Quarter j. within the Cultural Industries Quarter. Limited housing will also be appropriate in other parts of the City Centre where needed as part of mixed schemes to achieve a viable balance of uses.

Waste Development Objectives

The City's waste will be managed more sustainably by: a. encouraging less consumption of raw materials through the reduction and re-use of waste products; and b. making the best use of existing landfill capacity and only using the city's Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme allocations when disposing of organic municipal waste; and c. restricting consent for additional landfill to those cases where local provision can be justified; and d. meeting the national staged targets for recovering value from municipal waste by utilising the existing energy-from-waste plant and developing services and facilities to meet agreed performance targets for recycling or composting household waste; and e. permitting a range of additional treatment facilities, mainly in industrial areas, sufficient to meet the regional apportionment for commercial and industrial waste together with requirements for other waste streams where the city is best placed to meet local and wider needs; and f. avoiding the unnecessary use of greenfield land when identifying suitable sites/areas and permitting other waste development.

Safeguarding Major Waste Facilities

The energy recovery plant at Bernard Road and the landfill site at Parkwood Springs will be retained to meet the city's long-term requirements for waste management.

Provision for Recycling and Composting

Increased recycling and composting will be enabled by: a. supporting the development of a network of small-scale community composting schemes and new technologies for treating mixed organic waste and using green waste composting facilities at Tinsley and on local farms; and b. retaining and improving the current network of five major Household Waste Recycling Centres and, in the longer term, building a new facility to serve the south-west area of the city; and c. expanding the number of local recycling points, particularly in existing shopping centres, transport interchanges and at education and health facilities.

City-wide Distribution of Shopping and Leisure Development

New shops and leisure facilities with city-wide and regional catchments will be concentrated in the City Centre Primary Shopping Area and immediately adjacent shopping streets of the City Centre, which will be strengthened through a major retail-led, mixed-use regeneration scheme, which will form the New Retail Quarter. Meadowhall Shopping Centre will remain at around its present size and major non-food retail development will not occur outside the City Centre's Primary Shopping Area and District Centres and their edges.

Locations for Large Leisure and Cultural Developments

Development of leisure and cultural facilities that serve the city and wider region will be located in, or at the edge of, the City Centre where possible. Major leisure facilities will be located in the Lower Don Valley if no sites are suitable or available in the City Centre or at its edge. Leisure development serving smaller catchments, such as the north or south of Sheffield, will be located in the specified alternative concentrations in the Upper Don and Sheaf Valleys if no sites are available or suitable in existing centres.

Shopping in the City Centre

Major non-food retail development will be concentrated in the Primary Shopping Area, extending from Moorhead to the north end of Fargate. This area will be strengthened as the heart of a regional shopping centre by the development of the New Retail Quarter, a major comprehensive retail-led mixed-use development. Within and adjacent to the Primary Shopping Area development that might individually or cumulatively prejudice or delay the success of the regeneration of the Primary Shopping Area will not be permitted. In addition to the Primary Shopping Area, retail uses will also be required on the ground floor frontages of the following Shopping Streets at the approaches to the Primary Shopping Area: a. The Moor (north of Fitzwilliam Gate) b. High Street. More limited levels of new retail uses will be located on the ground floor frontages of Shopping Streets at the approaches to the Primary Shopping Area. The other Shopping Streets are: c. Division Street and Devonshire Street d. King Street e. Angel Street f. Haymarket g. Arundel Gate between High Street and Norfolk Street h. Surrey Street. On other streets leading into the Primary Shopping Area, small shops, food and drink outlets and services that would promote the vitality of the area will be acceptable on ground floor frontages.

District Centres

The District Centres are: Heeley, Banner Cross, Broomhill, Hillsborough, London Road, Chapeltown, Chaucer (proposed), Manor Top, Spital Hill, Crookes, Crystal Peaks, Stocksbridge, Woodhouse, Darnall, Ecclesall Road, Woodseats, Firth Park. District Centres will be encouraged in fulfilling their role of providing for everyday needs with a range of retail, leisure and community facilities, appropriate in scale and function to the role of the centre. They may also include concentrations of specific shops or services in response to the market in their particular area. Smaller-scale offices and residential development away from shop frontages will complement shops and services. Centres at Darnall, Spital Hill and Manor Top will be improved and, where possible, expanded. A new centre will be developed at Chaucer.

Darnall District Centre

Regeneration, renewal and expansion of the Darnall District Centre will be promoted to provide a wider range of retail and other services.

Hillsborough District Centre

Hillsborough District Centre will be maintained and supported at around its present size by consolidating development and by continuing environmental improvements and centre management. The centre will be further supported by: a. high-density housing and offices close by b. improved links to the leisure and education area at Livesey Street c. reducing through-traffic.

Firth Park, Spital Hill and Chaucer District Centres

Firth Park District Centre will be maintained and supported at around its present size with environmental and area management measures. The Spital Hill District Centre will be expanded and renewed with a wider range of shops and services and other developments providing new jobs. A new District Centre will be developed at Chaucer incorporating the existing Neighbourhood Centre.

Manor Top District Centre

Renewal and, where possible, expansion of Manor Top District Centre will be promoted with a wider range of retail and other services. Priority will also be given to improving its appearance and accessibility.

Neighbourhood Centres

New development for local shops and community facilities to serve the everyday needs of the community will be encouraged in Neighbourhood Centres. The facilities of the most viable Neighbourhood Centres in Housing Market Renewal areas will be improved and strengthened and their environments improved.

Pedestrian Routes

The pedestrian environment will be improved, with priority being given to routes providing access to: a. the City Centre, via the main radial routes b. other major employment areas: i. University of Sheffield/Museums/Hallamshire and Children's Hospitals/Collegiate Campus ii. the Northern General Hospital iii. the new Sheffield College site on Penistone Road iv. Sheffield College site on Granville Road v. the Lower Don Valley between Attercliffe and Meadowhall c. railway stations and other key transport nodes d. District Centres and areas within them Walking routes will also be developed along the corridors of the Strategic Green Network.

Cycling Routes

Improvement and development of the cycle network will be given priority on strategic links, mainly to key employment locations, particularly on routes: a. providing access to the City Centre from the University, Bramall Lane, Charlotte Road and Granville Street b. making up the City Centre ring route northern section (Upper Hanover Way – Exchange Street – Pond Street) c. providing access within the City Centre d. through the Upper and Lower Don Valley, with a network of links to neighbouring residential areas; e. between the Northern General Hospital and City Centre (via Riverside); f. through the Blackburn Valley, extending through Smithy Wood and Hesley Wood to Chapeltown and the TransPennine Trail.

Priority Routes for Bus and Bus Rapid Transit

Bus priority measures on Key Routes will be developed to reduce the impact of congestion on buses and improve speed, reliability, frequency and accessibility in the main urban area and on links to economic regeneration areas. Measures will include traffic management schemes (including bus lanes), park-and-ride sites, new transport interchanges, traffic signal technology, improved information and waiting areas for users, and bus/light rail rapid transit, where appropriate. The following Key Routes will be improved through bus priority measures over the period to 2011: a. A6109 City Centre – M1 J34 North b. A6178 City Centre – M1 J34 South c. A6178/B6200 City Centre – Woodhouse d. A6135 City Centre – Mosborough/Halfway e. B6388 Heeley – Gleadless f. A625 Ecclesall Road g. A61 Penistone Road Site-specific public transport priority measures will be developed on a number of other Key Routes, to include: h. A61 Sheffield Inner Relief Road i. C105 Woodseats Road j. B6079 Infirmary Road/Langsett Road Routes will be identified for Bus/Tram Rapid Transit between Sheffield and Rotherham.

Park-and-Ride and Car Parking in the City Centre

Short-stay parking provision within the City Centre will be increased to 9,500 spaces and long-stay parking will be reduced to enable this to be achieved. In support, pricing policies will be implemented to favour short-stay over long-stay parking. Additional long-stay parking to serve the City Centre will be provided through park-and-ride facilities outside the centre and the strategic priority corridors or locations include: a. Penistone Road b. Ecclesall Road c. Abbeydale Road d. Meadowhead/Chesterfield Road e. Sheffield Parkway f. Lower Don Valley In addition, new locations will be developed where demand exists and as and when opportunities arise, particularly where they would serve links with improved facilities and infrastructure for best possible public transport.

Freight

The movement of freight by sustainable modes will be encouraged, primarily rail through promoting the use of Tinsley Rail Freight Terminal. Road-based freight will be concentrated onto the Key Route Network. The impact of road-based freight will be managed and minimised through the production of Freight Management Strategies, as part of the Travel Plan process.

New Roads

There will be no significant increase in the physical capacity of the city's highway network. New through-roads will only be built, and existing roads improved, in a limited number of circumstances, to: a. improve the movement of public transport, cyclists or pedestrians; or b. enable regeneration; or c. reduce serious traffic impacts on the local environment where there is no sustainable alternative option. The following road schemes are proposed: i. Improvements to M1 Junctions 34 North and South ii. M1 Junction 34 relief road (Halfpenny Link) iii. Improvements to Sheffield Parkway (A630) and Catcliffe Junction iv. Claywheels Lane improvements associated with proposed new road and crossing of River Don v. A61 Penistone Rd/Herries Rd improvements vi. A6102 Herries Rd/Barnsley Rd (Fir Vale) vii. A621 Bramall Lane widening.

Transport in the City Centre

The transport network into and within the City Centre will be managed to enable the development of its core city functions. Increased demand for trips will be managed by measures including: a. public transport improvements including: i. a series of midi-interchanges to meet the needs of bus users at priority locations including: Moorfoot The New Retail Quarter (Charter Square) Howard Street/Sheffield Station ii. bus-based park-and-ride links on the main radial routes at the edge of the main urban area to serve the City Centre iii. City Centre shuttle bus service providing connections between major destinations in the City Centre iv. improved penetration of the City Centre by public transport; b. including the area inside the new Northern Inner Relief Road within the City Centre Controlled Parking Zone; c. development of car club hubs at the following locations: i. Arundel Street ii. Charles Street iii. Fitzwilliam Street iv. St James Street v. Victoria Street vi. Brown Street vii. Millsands viii. Moorfoot; d. providing for 9,500 public short-stay parking spaces but restricting long-stay public and private car parking and providing long-stay park-and-ride facilities on the edge of the urban area; e. helping all users of the City Centre to understand and find their way round the City Centre, including extending the Connect Sheffield project in conjunction with development in the New Retail Quarter and The Moor.

Pedestrian Environment in the City Centre

A Pedestrian Priority Zone in which a high-quality environment will allow priority for the safe, convenient and comfortable movement of pedestrians within and through the area, will be established in the following areas of the City Centre: a. Heart of the City b. Fargate c. The Moor/NRQ d. the Cultural Industries Quarter e. Castlegate/Victoria Quays f. Devonshire Street g. the University of Sheffield (Portobello/Portobello Street) h. routes to St Vincent's i. West Bar j. Sheaf Square/Howard Street k. Kelham/Neepsend.

Access to Wider Employment Opportunities for Residents in the North-East Urban Area

Transport links will be improved to major employment areas, especially in the Lower and Upper Don Valley, and Burngreave will be integrated more closely with the neighbouring areas of the City Centre. This will include improvements to public transport and the Key Route Network.

Rail Connections

Priority for development of the rail network within the city will be given to improving connections with London, Leeds and Manchester and main urban centres within the City Region. Local stations and services will be improved where there would still be enough capacity for longer distance services. The existing track-bed of the rail route between Sheffield and Dore stations and the freight line from the City Centre to Stocksbridge will be safeguarded for transport uses. Former rail routes will be safeguarded for future transport use, either rail, where possible, or walking and cycling, where suitable, at: a. the Blackburn Chord near Tinsley b. the Woodhead route north of Deepcar c. the Meadowhall to Chapeltown (former Great Central) line.

Transport Priorities

The strategic priorities for transport are: a. promoting choice by developing alternatives to the car b. maximising accessibility c. containing congestion levels d. improving air quality e. improving road safety f. supporting economic objectives through demand management measures and sustainable travel initiatives.

Key Route Network

The Key Route Network will provide good quality, access to the City Centre and to the regional and national road network, and fulfil the following strategic transport functions: a. through-traffic and strategic traffic movements will be concentrated on the 'A' roads of the Network, with best use being made of existing road capacity to enable this; b. specific Key Routes (see table below) will receive integrated 'whole-route' treatment of congestion; c. specific Key Routes (see table below) will receive 'whole-route' treatment as Quality Bus Corridors; d. other Key Routes will be treated with bus priority and traffic management measures on a more site-specific basis to alleviate more localised problems; e. road-based freight will be concentrated onto those Key Routes (see table below) where it would not have an unacceptable impact on local communities. Investment in the Key Routes will be complemented by improved links into the communities that they serve to increase their accessibility.

Management of Demand for Travel

Increasing demand for travel in all parts of the city will be managed to meet the different needs of particular areas through: a. promoting good quality public transport and routes for walking and cycling to broaden the choice of modes of travel; b. making best use of existing road capacity through the use of variable-message signing and Intelligent Transport Systems; c. implementing Travel Plans for new developments to maximise the use of sustainable forms of travel and mitigate the negative impacts of transport, particularly congestion and vehicle emissions; d. active promotion of more efficient and sustainable use of vehicles through car clubs, car sharing to increase vehicle occupancy and incentives for using alternatively fuelled vehicles. These will be associated with new residential and commercial developments and particularly in the City Centre; e. managing public car parking to reduce long-stay commuter parking in favour of short-stay and providing long-stay park-and-ride facilities near the edge of the main urban area; f. creating Controlled Parking Zones to manage traffic levels in constrained locations and encourage the use of more sustainable modes of travel, with priority to: i. the City Centre; ii. the Peripheral Residential Parking Zone around the City Centre, incorporating Broomhill, Sharrow, Broomhall and Crookesmoor; iii. the eastern end of the Lower Don Valley, including Atlas and Carbrook; g. applying maximum parking standards for all new developments to manage the provision of private parking spaces.

Pedestrian Routes

The pedestrian environment will be improved, with priority being given to routes providing access to: a. the City Centre, via the main radial routes b. other major employment areas: i. University of Sheffield/Museums/Hallamshire and Children's Hospitals/Collegiate Campus ii. the Northern General Hospital iii. the new Sheffield College site on Penistone Road iv. Sheffield College site on Granville Road v. the Lower Don Valley between Attercliffe and Meadowhall c. railway stations and other key transport nodes d. District Centres and areas within them Walking routes will also be developed along the corridors of the Strategic Green Network.