Sheffield City Council Cabinet meeting approved the Burngreave and Fir Vale Masterplan on Wednesday 25th May.
This means that money can now be accessed to begin work. A potential £174 million could be invested over the course of the project.
The public gallery was crammed with local residents who had come to follow the debate and decision.
Councillors and City Hall officials first heard a series of objections to the plans by representatives from the Spital Hill Local Voice group who expressed concern at: the possible ‘demolition of Spital Hill’; a lack of council commitment to setting up working groups for Woodside, Spital Hill and Catherine Street and the fact that New Deal was continuously referred to, although other key organisations such as BCAF, Burnbank TARA, Burngreave Business Forum and Spital Hill Local Voice were not mentioned in the report put to the Council.
Concern was again expressed about the location and nature of a supermarket as well as the impact it may have on local businesses. Fir Vale residents protested that demolition of their homes might leave them at a financial disadvantage.
Replying on behalf of the Cabinet, Councillor Chris Weldon quoted New Deal, saying that there had been numerous consultations. He promised that the Council would continue to work closely with local residents through the project groups and reassured Fir Vale residents that they will not lose out financially.
In a presentation to the Cabinet Joanne Rooney and David Shepherd, from the Council Area Planning Office, stressed that ‘extensive consultation had taken place'including 786 written comments and 2,700 people at public meetings.
They also mentioned that no final decision had been taken about the proposed supermarket and that the views of Spital Hill traders will be taken into account.
Approving the Masterplan, Jan Wilson, Leader of the Council, said that a proposed Council Planning Office Charter – which guarantees a commitment to consulting both residents and businesses – would become part of the plan.
Councillor Steve Jones made a further plea for people to get involved in the project groups and acknowledged that the Council needed to continue ‘building trust’.
Residents left looking unimpressed by Council reassurances and vowed to continue to make sure that ‘the Masterplan actually does what people want and doesn’t simply turn into a money-making opportunity for developers or supermarket chains’.