The Sheffield City Council Planning and Highways Committee met on 19 August 2025, and made the decision to confirm a Tree Preservation Order, and to defer decisions on three proposed cycle tracks. The committee also reviewed records of planning appeals submitted and decided.

Cycle Track Proposals

The committee deferred decisions on three proposals to convert public footpaths into shared footpath/cycle tracks, so that further information could be presented to the committee on the relevant schemes. All three proposals were part of the Connecting Sheffield scheme, which aims to improve cycling, walking and public transport infrastructure in the city.

The specific proposals were:

• Wilfrid Road and Shirland Lane, Darnall, Sheffield S9: The proposal involves converting a public footpath linking Wilfrid Road and Shirland Lane into a shared footpath/cycle track, as part of the Connecting Sheffield: Darnall – Attercliffe – City Centre (DACC) scheme. The existing path is approximately 2.5 metres wide, and the new path would vary between 3.5 and 4.5 metres. The additional land required for widening is owned by the council's housing department, and an agreement would be made to dedicate the land as public highway.

• Exeter Drive and Moore Street, Broomhall, Sheffield, S3: This proposal would convert a public footpath linking Exeter Drive and Moore Street in Broomhall into a shared footpath/cycle track. This is part of the Connecting Sheffield: Nether Edge to City Centre scheme, which aims to provide high quality, safer and easy-to-use cycling and walking routes. The existing footpath will be altered to provide a segregated pedestrian/cycle path.

• Watkin Close and Staniforth Road, Darnall, Sheffield, S9: The proposal involves converting a public footpath linking Watkin Close and Staniforth Road into a shared footpath/cycle track, as part of the Connecting Sheffield Darnall Attercliffe – City Centre scheme. The existing verge and footpath arrangement will be altered to provide a wider, segregated pedestrian/cycle path. Bollards currently preventing vehicle access at the Staniforth Road end would remain in place.

The reports relating to each of the cycle track proposals noted that consultations had been carried out with statutory undertakers¹, the emergency services, footpath societies and ward councillors.

Tree Preservation Order 489 - Elmwood and Coach House, High Street, Mosborough. S20 4EF

The committee voted to confirm Tree Preservation Order (TPO) 489 without modification, protecting trees at Elmwood and the Coach House, High Street, Mosborough. Councillor Tony Downing declared an interest in this item, as he had been supporting constituents who were opposed to the order, and left the meeting for the duration of the discussion and voting.

The TPO was made on 8 April 2025, following a request from the owner of Elmwood to protect trees on both properties due to their historical importance and to protect them from potential harm. The Community Tree Officer visited the site and identified trees suitable for protection.

The report to the committee noted that the grounds of Elmwood and the Coach House were built in the 19th century and were originally part of the larger Mosborough Hall estate. The site has been recognised as having local historical importance by inclusion of the grounds within Policy BE21 of the Sheffield Unitary Development Plan (UDP) 1998, and is included in the Local Heritage List for South Yorkshire.

Nine objections to the TPO were received, including concerns about maintenance, safety, and the amenity value of the trees.

The Community Tree Officer's report responded to the objections, stating that a TPO does not prevent work being carried out to trees, but requires an application process to control the impact of the work. The report also noted that the majority of the mature deciduous trees have visibility from Sheffield Road, Hallside Court or Pingle Walk, and that the row of lime trees and groups of evergreens have historic significance.

The report concluded that the trees had sufficient amenity value to justify protection with a TPO.

Planning Appeals

The committee received and noted two reports from the Head of Planning, detailing planning appeals received, dismissed, and allowed by the Secretary of State. One of the reports was deferred from the previous meeting.