Latest news update (11 September 2025):

Smithy Wood Ancient Woodland – Still Under Threat!

Aegis Energy have proposed a new HGV refuelling and recharging station at Smithy Wood Business Park.

Whilst the trust welcomes a rapid transition away from fossil fuels to renewable and clean energy to achieve net zero emissions, we believe that infrastructure should be developed in tandem with nature recovery not damage irreplaceable or priority habitats or the wildlife they support.

This development is situated within 50m of the Smithy Wood Ancient Woodland and 30m of other Local Wildlife Sites making this the wrong location because:

Permanent loss of rewilded habitats and breeding ground for red-listed species.
Fragmentation of ecological networks, destroying corridors between Smithy Wood and Blackburn Brook
Pollution from the development and increased number of vehicles in the area, into surrounding habitats
Contamination of surrounding habitats when historic industry land is disturbed
Hydrological changes to the site and surrounding areas

All of which threaten the local wildlife and biodiversity, including 10 species of red/amber listed breeding birds, and bat species of local/county importance, with inadequate mitigation.

Protecting Smithy Wood Ancient Woodland and its surrounding priority habitats and the vulnerable species utilising them must take precedence over industrial redevelopment at this highly sensitive ecological and irreplaceable site.

You can read our objection to this development here.

If you wish to also object to this development please visit the Sheffield Planning Portal (25/02456/FUL) or for more information contact us at takeaction@wildsheffield.com

To support SRWT and our work please visit here.

Read more about the background of Smithy Wood.

News update (23 January 2020):

MSA Extra have withdrawn their application to develop a major motorway service area on Smithy Wood, a semi-natural ancient woodland and Local Wildlife Site near J35 of the M1.

This is fantastic news for the campaign – but it is not the end. For Smithy Wood to be saved, we now ask the landowner St Pauls to work with us so we can secure the woodland for future generations to enjoy.

You can help support our work to save special places for nature like Smithy Wood by making a donation to our Campaign Fund.

Read more about the background of Smithy Wood.

The Issue

Smithy Wood is designated on Natural England’s Ancient Woodland Inventory.

Ancient woodland is of national importance and recognised as an irreplaceable habitat.

Smithy Wood is also designated as a Local Wildlife Site and sits within the Green Belt.

Our position

We strongly object to the outline planning application for the following reasons:

Smithy Wood is designated on Natural England’s Ancient Woodland Inventory. Ancient woodland is of national importance and recognised as an irreplaceable habitat. Smithy Wood is also designated as a Local Wildlife Site and sits within the Green Belt. From information in the planning application we firmly believe that the scale, nature and location of the proposal will serve to cause extensive and irreversible loss of a major part of the ancient woodland area (and residual damage to the remnant) and loss of much of the Local Wildlife Site.
The gradual loss of smaller sites such as Smithy Wood adds up over time to a significant loss in woodland to Sheffield – something that is special and unique about the city.
The Sheffield City Council Development Plan and Core Strategy has recognised the importance of such sites through a number of policies including Ecological Networks and we believe these planning policies should be upheld.
The application fails against National Planning Policy Framework tests

Bluebells around an ancient tree in Smithy Wood

Dr Nicky Rivers campaigned hard to save Smithy Wood

What we have done and will do

In November 2019 we organised the event Irreplaceable: An Evening of Trees with author Julian Hoffman and Sheffield Tree Action Groups
In October 2019 our CEO Liz Ballard featured in a BBC Radio 4 documentary M1 Symphony talking about Smithy Wood
In May 2019 we published a press release about the carpet of bluebells at the site – an indicator species of ancient woodland – and reiterated our opposition to the planning application.
Commented on and continued to monitor progress of the planning application for an alternative motorway service station at Junction 33 of the M1
Held a public rally outside Sheffield Town Hall with over 300 attendees in March 2017
Commented on the pre-application consultation
Met the applicant’s ecologists on site to hear about their proposals and the reasons for their approach
Met the applicant to discuss the proposal and the mitigation package. This was with the aim of securing an improved compensation package for the loss of biodiversity and access to green space for local people should our objection to the application fail.
Liaised with local wildlife and planning experts from across the city to co-ordinate and submit a detailed objection to the planning application. This was followed by additional comments as the applicants provided more information.