Industrial park gets go-ahead despite traffic fear

PLANS FOR a huge industrial park on the site of a former steelworks on the outskirts of Sheffield have been given the goahead – potentially creating thousands of extra jobs.

Peel Logistics plans to build the 838,000 sq ft park on the location of the former Outokumpu steelworks in Shepcote Lane, which “will breathe new life and employment opportunities” back into the 50-acre brownfield site.

But councillors at a meeting of Sheffield City Council’s planning and highways committee were told that the plans would increase traffic congestion around Junction 34 of the M1 – already problematic due to the Meadowhall shopping centre and an Ikea store.

Council officer Helen Johnson told the meeting: “We have got issues around Junction 34. Highways England have become more and more concerned about the impact, particularly with traffic queueing back onto the main line.

“There will be an impact, but not a severe impact. There were concerns about the impact of the Ikea application, but the impact of Ikea hasn’t been as extensive or severe as anticipated.”

The development will progress over two phases – the first to include two separate units, one of about 45,000 sq ft, and the second covering 134,000 sq ft.

The application also includes provision for 195 parking spaces, and the site would be accessed from Shepcote Lane.

Outline planning consent was also approved for the second, larger phase of the development.

Phase two will involve about 35 acres of land, the planning report states, and will include three units as well as 599 parking spaces.