Story: Rohan Francis | Photo: Sonam Nawaz
Local residents were eager to see the latest proposals for the Earl Marshal housing development when they were unveiled by Sheffield Housing Company at a well-attended consultation afternoon in August.
The plans include proposals to build 59 houses on empty land between Earl Marshal Road and Skinnerthorpe Road – next to the new Oasis Fir Vale Primary. The developers’ drawings show a mixture of house sizes, with 12 two-bed, 22 three-bed, 19 four-bed, 4 five-bed and 2 six-bed properties. Of the 59 homes proposed, 53 will be for sale and 6 for ‘affordable’ rent.
Pedestrian through route
The houses are arranged around a central tree-lined avenue, with each having a rear garden and separate driveway. Sheffield Housing Company responded to earlier consultation by committing to retaining the pedestrian route from Earl Marshal Road to Skinnerthorpe Road, and the shops at Fir Vale.
This route will also connect a central public space inside the scheme and a ‘community space’ beside the junction with Skinnerthorpe Road. The use of this space is yet to be decided but the designers have suggested the area could be used as an environmental feature which would aid in absorbing rainfall from the wider site and take the burden off existing drains.
For more information on the Earl Marshal plans see the Council's web pages: http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/shc