Handsworth Hall Farm / Orgreave Park - How to Comment
Sheffield City Council has received EIA Scoping Opinion request 26/02374/EIA for Handsworth Hall Farm / Orgreave Park.
The scheme being considered could include up to 900 homes and up to 20 hectares of employment land.
This is not a planning application. It is an early technical stage where the Council considers what environmental information should be included in any future Environmental Statement.
There is no need to write a lengthy objection. But if you would like to comment, this is an opportunity to ask the Council to make sure the environmental assessment covers the issues that may matter locally.
On this page
- What should I write?
- Other development around Handsworth
- Agricultural land and Grade 3a
- Traffic and local roads
- Wildlife, woodland and streams
- Construction, water and drainage
- Keep it simple
- How to comment
Choose one or two of the issues that matter most to you. You do not need to cover them all.
What Should I Write?
You could start with:
"I am commenting on EIA Scoping Opinion request 26/02374/EIA. I would ask Sheffield City Council to ensure that the future Environmental Statement considers the potentially significant environmental effects of the development, including relevant combined effects with other development around Handsworth, S13 and Waverley."
The opening is the technical bit - it is fine for everyone to use the same wording there. Everything after it should be in your own words.
Then choose one or two issues that particularly matter to you.
1. Other Development Around Handsworth
This proposal would sit within an area where other development is also continuing or planned.
The Sheffield Local Plan changes increase planned housing supply in Southeast Sheffield from about 1,640 to 3,013 homes - around 84% more. SES29 and nearby SES30 are proposed for 1,697 homes between them. Waverley, immediately across the Sheffield/Rotherham boundary, is also still being built out.
The Scoping Report already proposes to consider a number of other developments. Residents may simply wish to ask whether the assessment gives a realistic picture of development expected around the wider area.
"Please consider the relevant combined effects of this development with SES30, the continuing development at Waverley and other nearby planned or committed development, where these could affect the same roads, communities, landscape or wildlife."
2. Agricultural Land and Grade 3a
The Scoping Report proposes to leave agricultural land out of the detailed EIA. It notes that the land is broadly Grade 3 and suggests historic mining means a significant proportion is unlikely to be higher-quality "Best and Most Versatile" (BMV) farmland.
However, newer Defra predictive mapping shows most of SES29 as predicted Grade 3a, which falls within the BMV category. The predictive map is not a detailed field survey, so it does not settle the question. It does, however, give a reasonable basis for asking whether more detailed evidence is needed.
"Please consider whether a site-specific Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) survey is needed before agricultural land is excluded from the EIA, so that the amount of any Grade 3a land and the potential loss of agricultural soil are properly understood."
3. Traffic and Local Roads
The developer's initial assessment estimates the development could generate up to 6,258 two-way vehicle movements a day, including up to 335 HGV movements.
Nearby SES30 and continuing development at Waverley will also place traffic on some of the same roads. Separate Local Plan work has already identified the Retford Road / Beaver Hill Road junction as requiring mitigation, with modelling showing queues remaining even after improvements.
Traffic is already proposed to be included in the EIA, so the question for residents is mainly whether the assessment covers the right area and the right future assumptions.
"Please ensure the transport assessment considers relevant traffic from SES30, Waverley and other nearby development, as well as HGVs, construction traffic, school peaks, pedestrians and cyclists."
The Scoping Report also discusses the possibility of a future Waverley railway station reducing car travel. As the station is not currently committed, residents may wish to ask that the assessment also considers circumstances in which it has not been delivered.
4. Wildlife, Woodland and Streams
The landowner's 2023 ecological assessment recorded lowland deciduous woodland, a pond and a stream, together with hedgerows, trees and scrub. The current Scoping Report also identifies a Local Wildlife Site within the site and another immediately alongside it.
Ecology is proposed to be assessed. However, some related matters, including lighting and certain air-quality effects on wildlife, are treated separately or more narrowly in the proposed scope.
Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust has previously raised issues including artificial light, traffic pollution, noise and the way development can affect connections between habitats.
"Please ensure the ecological assessment considers not only direct habitat loss, but also relevant effects from lighting, traffic pollution, noise, increased activity and changes to the connections between woodland, the stream, pond and other wildlife habitats."
If you regularly use this area and have seen particular wildlife, it is useful to mention what you have personally observed.
5. Construction, Water and Drainage
Across a large site like this, the development could take place in phases. The Scoping Report proposes that construction noise and vibration do not need a separate detailed EIA assessment because these effects can normally be managed through construction controls.
The site also contains a stream and pond, and the EIA will consider drainage and the water environment.
Residents may wish to ask the Council to make sure the proposed scope is sufficient to consider the interaction between construction, nearby homes, surface water and wildlife.
"Please ensure the assessment takes account of the likely duration and phasing of construction, together with construction traffic, noise and dust where relevant, and fully considers runoff, the stream and pond, surface-water drainage and sewer capacity."
If you have personally experienced flooding, standing water or drainage problems locally, describe what you have seen and where.
Keep It Simple
You do not need to cover every issue, and you do not need to write a technical response.
One or two points in your own words are perfectly useful. If you have local knowledge - for example about traffic, wildlife, drainage, footpaths or particular locations - include it where relevant.
The purpose at this stage is simply to help the Council decide what needs to be properly assessed if a planning application comes forward.
How to Comment
Quote the reference 26/02374/EIA and say that your comment concerns the scope of the Environmental Impact Assessment.
Comment here:
Sheffield City Council Planning Applications Online
Search for 26/02374/EIA, then use the "Comments" tab. You will need to register on Public Access before you can comment.
Deadline:
DEADLINE TO CONFIRM
The Council normally has five weeks from receiving a scoping request to issue its opinion, unless a longer period is agreed with the developer. We are currently confirming with Sheffield City Council how long public comments will be accepted.
Before you send, check that you have:
If you would like to comment, even a short and specific response is useful.
We will update this page when the Council confirms the relevant dates and submission arrangements. Watch for website updates, or subscribe to the email list to be kept up to date.