CONTENTS

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2. BACKGROUND
3. METHODOLOGY
4. RESULTS
5.  
   1. HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
   2. OPEN SPACES
   3. COMMUNITY FACILITIES
   4. RETAIL OUTLETS AND SERVICES
   5. JOBS
   6. EDUCATION AND TRAINING
6. Map of Survey Area

Summary

A total of 145 questionnaires were completed from the resident community, representing 37% of the resident 389 households.

Housing Development

Overall, 72.1% indicated some form of approval for the housing development, while almost half (48.3%) totally approved. 16.1% indicated some form of disapproval, while 6.3% indicated that they did not approve at all.

Those who indicated approval for the housing development cited an 'improved image' as the key reason. Of those who indicated some form of disapproval, 'loss of view' was the most cause for concern.

Family housing was identified as the most preferred type of housing, followed closely by private starter homes. Apartment housing was the least indicated form of accommodation preferred.

44.0% of respondents thought that the housing development would increase the value of property in the area while 10.1% indicated that it would decrease values. Almost a third (32.1%) didn't know either way and the remainder (13.8%) thought that property values would remain the same.

Open Spaces

Just over two thirds (67.3%) of respondents indicated some form of approval for open spaces development, with over half (51.4%) totally approving. 24.6% indicated some level of disapproval, with 8.0% totally disapproving.

'Lighting' and 'Safe walks within open spaces' were indicated as the main reasons for favouring the open spaces development. 'Loss of open spaces' and 'loss of view' were most cited as the reasons by those not in favour.

Most people (54.2%) indicated that they would use open spaces more if they were improved.

Facilities

The facilities that people most wanted to see included in any new learning centre development were a Garden Centre, Library and IT Facilities. A café was also seen as an important facility.

Education and Learning

Recreational and leisure courses were identified among respondents as the most preferred type of facilities. Formal Education and Training for Work facilities received preference levels similar to each other.

BACKGROUND

General Issues Surrounding the Development Proposals

The Sheffield College has conducted a significant amount of research into its operations in the north of the city. It is clear that if post 16 learning opportunities are to be maximised in the north of the city a new purpose built college centre, providing easily accessible specialist provision is required. To this end, the College has committed £25m investment in the building a new college in the Hillsborough area.

The learning programmes currently offered at the Loxley and Parson Cross centres will be transferred to the new centre when it opens in 2005. As a result the College will cease to deliver courses from the current sites at Remington Road and Morrall Road and therefore seek to place the sites on the open market. However, the College is determined to work with the community groups in ensuring that any future plans for the sites compliment development plans for the wider neighbourhood.

Methodology

Aims and Objectives of the Research

The objectives of the research were to:

Sampling

The sampling frame for the survey was generated by identifying those households in direct proximity to the areas of development - see Appendix 1. This included 426 properties, of which 37 at present are unoccupied. Therefore, the sample 'resident' household population was 389.

The streets that made up this were as follows:

Data Collection

It was decided that in support of the overall consultation process, a questionnaire survey would be undertaken to help quantify the opinions of residents towards specific areas of the development proposal.

5 interviewers were recruited from the local community and briefed by the Centre for Research and Evaluation (CRE) to administer the survey. The briefing covered the content of the questionnaire itself (including editing where required), issues related to dealing with respondents and general market research guidelines as developed by the Market Research Society.

Interviewers went out into the community over a two week period - weeks commencing 24^th March and 31^st March 2003 - to gather responses from the resident community defined above in the sampling methodology.

Response rate

A total of 145 questionnaires were completed from the resident community, representing 37% of resident households. The location of respondents was as follows:

Note: Total of 144 is due to one missing address

Results

Housing Development

Question 1: Effect the proposed housing development will have.

Respondents were asked to indicate how much the housing development would affect them in their daily life - with 1 = Not at all to 7 = It would affect me a lot. Most people (54.2%) believed that the proposed development would not affect them at all in their daily life. 12.7%, around 1 in 8 people thought that the proposed development would affect them a lot.

Appendix 2 illustrates the response to the question by respondent location.

Question 2: How much do you approve of the proposal?

Respondents were asked to indicate how much they approved of the development - from 1 = Total disapproval, to 7 = Total approval. Almost half of those interviewed (48.3%) totally approved of the housing development shown and explained by interviewers. 6.3% indicated that they did not approve at all of the housing development proposed. Overall, 72.1% indicated some form of approval (by indicating a score of 5, 6 or 7).

Appendix 3 illustrates the response to the question by respondent location.

Question 3: What are your main objections

Of those who indicated some form of disapproval, 'loss of view' was cited most a cause for concern, followed closely by 'increase traffic' and 'loss of open spaces'. Appendix 4 illustrates the response to the question by respondent location.

Those indicating the 'Other' category provided the following open ended comments:

Question 4: & what do you mainly approve of in the development?

Among those who indicated approval for the development, by far the most cited reason chosen was 'improved image'.

The next most popular reasons were 'better use of land' and 'mix of housing types'. Appendix 5 illustrates the response to the question by respondent location.

Those indicating the 'Other' category provided the following open ended comments:

Question 5: Which type of private housing would you favour?

Family housing was identified as the most preferred type of housing, followed closely by private starter homes. Apartment housing was the form of accommodation least often preferred.

Those indicating the 'Other' category provided the following open ended comments:

Question 6: Effect on property values

3.6 Respondents were asked to indicate what affect the development would have on the value of property in the area. Of those who responded, 44.0% thought that the development would increase the value of property in the area while 10.1% indicated that it would decrease values. A large proportion (32.1%) didn't know what the effect would be.

Open spaces

Question 7: How will the change to open spaces affect your daily life.

4.1 Respondents were asked to indicate the extent to which the changes to open spaces would affect them in their daily life - with 1 = Not at all, to 7 = It would affect me a lot. Just over half (50.7%) of those responding to this question indicated that the development of open spaces would not affect them at all in their daily life. 13.2% indicated the developments would affect them a lot.

Q8 To what extent do you approve of the changes to open spaces

4.2 Respondents were asked to indicate the extent of their approval to the changes to open spaces - with 1 = Totally disapprove, to 7 = Totally approve. Over half (51.4%) of those responding to this question totally approved of the open spaces development proposals.

Overall, just over two thirds (67.3% ) indicated some form of approval for the open spaces development (scoring 5, 6 or 7), while under one-quarter (24.6%) indicated some level of disapproval (scoring 1,2 or 3). Appendix 6 illustrates the response to the question by respondent location.

Question 9: What are your objections to these proposals for the open spaces?

4.3 Of those who indicated not being in favour of the open spaces developments, 'loss of open spaces' was cited most followed closely by 'loss of view' - see Table 4.3 overleaf. Appendix 7 illustrates the response to the question by respondent location.

Those indicating the 'Other' category provided the following open ended comments:

Q10 Which of the following do you favour?

Those who indicated being in favour of the open spaces developments identified 'Lighting' and 'Safe walks within open spaces' as the main reasons - issues related to safety and security.

As shown in this figure, the Park is the most frequently used open space although most people indicated never using open spaces at all.

Question 12: Would you use open spaces more if they were improved?

A small majority of people - 54.2 to 45.8% - indicated that they would use open spaces more if they were improved.

COMMUNITY FACILITIES

As this table shows, a library, community café and learning centre are the three facilities that would be most frequently used were they to be developed.

Question 13: What community facilities do you currently use in the local area?

Local parks were by far the most cited in use of community facilities in the area.

Those indicating the 'Other' category provided the following open ended comments:

RETAIL OUTLETS AND SERVICES

Question 14: How often do you use the shops in Margetson Crescent

Overall, most people (63.8%) use retail outlets in Margetson Crescent at least once a week. Around one in six people (17.4%) never use the retail outlets.

Question 15: Which shops do you use?

The Post office is the most used retail facility, closely followed by the Chemists and Co-op.

Question 16: Are there any improvements you would like to see as part of the new development

The most cited improvement to retail outlets and services was the 'Upgrading of shops', followed by 'more variety of shops' and 'improved lighting'.

Those indicating the 'Other' category provided the following open ended comments:

JOBS

Question 17: Do you think this development will create new local job opportunities

Of those answering this question, almost two thirds (63.7%) believed the development would create new local job opportunities. Almost a quarter (24.7%) indicated 'Don't know' and 11.8% thought the development would create new local jobs.

8.0 EDUCATION AND TRAINING

As shown in the figure below, the additional facilities that people most wanted to see included in the learning centre were a Garden Centre, Library and IT Facilities. A café was also seen as an important facility.

Crossed indicates that a box was ticked without the number being specified

Question 19: What other education and training facilities would you like to see made available?

Recreational and leisure courses were identified among respondents as the most preferred type of facilities. Formal Education and Training for Work facilities received preference levels similar to each other. Those indicating the 'Other' category provided the following open ended comments:

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