Agenda item

12.1

The Executive Director, Place and Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families submitted a joint report outlining work undertaken so far and recommending a swap of land uses between part of the former school site, on which a new children’s play area would be developed, and part of Spider Park, which would be sold and developed for housing to fund the new play area. The report also recommended the adoption of a sustainable solution for continued community use of the former Wisewood Secondary School Playing Fields.

12.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)

resolves that the former Wisewood Secondary School playing fields, shown at Appendix A in the report, and those areas of the former school site shown edged red at Appendix B in the report, be declared surplus to the requirements of the Children, Young People and Families portfolio;

(b)

resolves that, subject to the outcome of public consultation and the provision of replacement open space, the public open space at Spider Park shown edged red at Appendix C in the report be declared surplus to the requirements of the City Council;

(c)

resolves that the former playing fields, shown at Appendix A in the report, be licensed or leased to an appropriate junior football club endorsed by Sheffield or Hallamshire FA;

(d)

approves the former school library building being leased to RIVA Project for use as a project base;

(e)

resolves that the land, shown in green at Appendix B in the report, be leased to RIVA Project for use as a garden area to be developed and maintained for the use of the community;

(f)

resolves that the former Wisewood Secondary School caretaker’s house be leased to the local District Nurses for use as a drop-in office base;

(g)

authorises the Director of Capital and Major Projects to agree final terms for the disposals above, including the variation of any boundaries as required, and to instruct the Director of Legal Services to complete the necessary legal documentation;

(h)

resolves that the land, shown in blue at Appendix B to the report, be developed as a new play area of the scale and quality indicated by the design now shown in Appendix E of the report; and

(i)

notes that the Director of Culture and Environment will bring forward, as part of the monthly budget report, a capital approval submission  to deliver the new play area using the resources identified in Section 8.3 of this report and taking into account and changes arising from public consultation.

12.3

Reasons for Decision

12.3.1

Implementing the proposals in this report would contribute towards the outcome of making Sheffield a Great Place to Live, as identified in Standing Up for Sheffield, the Council’s Corporate Plan.

12.3.2

A swap of land uses between the former Wisewood Secondary School site and Spider Park would allow the creation of a better quality play area in a safer, more accessible location.

12.3.3

It would also allow the Council to realise a greater capital receipt than if it were to sell part of the former school site, which is not suitable for housing due to the proximity of the new floodlit sports pitch.

12.3.4

The development of a new children’s play area on part of the former school site would help meet an identified shortage of children’s play in the local area and complete the creation of a recreational hub including sports centre, artificial sports pitch and community garden.

12.3.5

The development of a small amount of housing at the top of Spider Park would provide natural surveillance over the remaining parkland and make the thoroughfare between Dial House Road and Sevenfields Lane safer to use.

12.3.6

Licensing or leasing the former Wisewood Secondary School playing fields to a Football Association endorsed football club would meet central government requirements regarding the protection of former school playing fields as a community resource and ensure that sufficient investment can be secured for the sustainable maintenance of the amenity for the people of Sheffield.

12.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

12.4.1

The alternative option is the original option: to dispose of part of the Wisewood school site and to invest limited funds in Spider Park. A masterplan for Spider Park was created in 2010 showing how the existing open space could potentially be developed following the removal of the compound that was then in place. However, to implement that masterplan would cost more than the proposed play area at the Wisewood School site, and without the option to generate funding through residential development at Spider Park this would not be a viable proposition.

12.4.2

The potential to generate a significant receipt from the surplus land on the school site is limited given that housing would not be acceptable and retail use could threaten the existing local centre. In any event the proposed play area at Wisewood would be superior to an enhanced Spider Park because of the safer, more accessible location.

12.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

12.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

12.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Simon Green, Executive Director, Place and Jayne Ludlam, Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families

12.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Economic and Environmental Wellbeing and Children, Young People and Family Support

12.1

The Executive Director, Place and Executive Director, Children, Young People and Families submitted a joint report outlining work undertaken so far and recommending a swap of land uses between part of the former school site, on which a new children’s play area would be developed, and part of Spider Park, which would be sold and developed for housing to fund the new play area. The report also recommended the adoption of a sustainable solution for continued community use of the former Wisewood Secondary School Playing Fields.

12.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)

resolves that the former Wisewood Secondary School playing fields, shown at Appendix A in the report, and those areas of the former school site shown edged red at Appendix B in the report, be declared surplus to the requirements of the Children, Young People and Families portfolio;

(b)

resolves that, subject to the outcome of public consultation and the provision of replacement open space, the public open space at Spider Park shown edged red at Appendix C in the report be declared surplus to the requirements of the City Council;

(c)

resolves that the former playing fields, shown at Appendix A in the report, be licensed or leased to an appropriate junior football club endorsed by Sheffield or Hallamshire FA;

(d)

approves the former school library building being leased to RIVA Project for use as a project base;

(e)

resolves that the land, shown in green at Appendix B in the report, be leased to RIVA Project for use as a garden area to be developed and maintained for the use of the community;

(f)

resolves that the former Wisewood Secondary School caretaker’s house be leased to the local District Nurses for use as a drop-in office base;

(g)

authorises the Director of Capital and Major Projects to agree final terms for the disposals above, including the variation of any boundaries as required, and to instruct the Director of Legal Services to complete the necessary legal documentation;

(h)

resolves that the land, shown in blue at Appendix B to the report, be developed as a new play area of the scale and quality indicated by the design now shown in Appendix E of the report; and

(i)

notes that the Director of Culture and Environment will bring forward, as part of the monthly budget report, a capital approval submission  to deliver the new play area using the resources identified in Section 8.3 of this report and taking into account and changes arising from public consultation.

12.3

Reasons for Decision

12.3.1

Implementing the proposals in this report would contribute towards the outcome of making Sheffield a Great Place to Live, as identified in Standing Up for Sheffield, the Council’s Corporate Plan.

12.3.2

A swap of land uses between the former Wisewood Secondary School site and Spider Park would allow the creation of a better quality play area in a safer, more accessible location.

12.3.3

It would also allow the Council to realise a greater capital receipt than if it were to sell part of the former school site, which is not suitable for housing due to the proximity of the new floodlit sports pitch.

12.3.4

The development of a new children’s play area on part of the former school site would help meet an identified shortage of children’s play in the local area and complete the creation of a recreational hub including sports centre, artificial sports pitch and community garden.

12.3.5

The development of a small amount of housing at the top of Spider Park would provide natural surveillance over the remaining parkland and make the thoroughfare between Dial House Road and Sevenfields Lane safer to use.

12.3.6

Licensing or leasing the former Wisewood Secondary School playing fields to a Football Association endorsed football club would meet central government requirements regarding the protection of former school playing fields as a community resource and ensure that sufficient investment can be secured for the sustainable maintenance of the amenity for the people of Sheffield.

12.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

12.4.1

The alternative option is the original option: to dispose of part of the Wisewood school site and to invest limited funds in Spider Park. A masterplan for Spider Park was created in 2010 showing how the existing open space could potentially be developed following the removal of the compound that was then in place. However, to implement that masterplan would cost more than the proposed play area at the Wisewood School site, and without the option to generate funding through residential development at Spider Park this would not be a viable proposition.

12.4.2

The potential to generate a significant receipt from the surplus land on the school site is limited given that housing would not be acceptable and retail use could threaten the existing local centre. In any event the proposed play area at Wisewood would be superior to an enhanced Spider Park because of the safer, more accessible location.