Smithy Wood

Smithy Wood includes over 15ha of semi-natural ancient woodland.

Latest news update (3 May 2019): Saving the bluebells of Smithy Wood

A development proposal has been submitted by the Extra MSA group to build a new motorway service station in Smithy Wood, off Junction 35 of the M1 in the Ecclesfield/Chapeltown area of Sheffield.

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

In June 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.