The second phase of Sheffield Housing Company's £250m investment in the City is underway.

Design and development work for a project in Fir Vale is about to commence and consultation with local residents could begin early next year.

The two hectare Earl Marshal site - between the A6135 Barnsley Road and Earl Marshal Road - was cleared of former council flats several years ago ready for redevelopment, which will include the retention of several mature trees. It is adjacent to Osgathorpe Park and Owler Lane local centre, while Fir Vale School, Whiteways Nursery, Infant and Junior School and the Northern General Hospital are all close by.

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Although construction was not scheduled to start until mid-2015, the high local demand for new homes means that Sheffield Housing Company is considering ways to bring this forward. Whilst proposals are subject to change during consultation and detailed site investigations, it is anticipated that over 60 new homes will be built.

These will be designed to meet the needs of the local population and are expected to be even larger than the homes built to date in the first phase of development at Falstaff, Norfolk Park and Shirecliffe. It is likely that the majority of the homes will be for private sale but there will be some for affordable rent and possibly shared ownership, depending on the market at the time and the continuing emergence of Help to Buy.

As the plans start to take shape, local residents will be given the opportunity to see and comment on the proposals.

Local ward member, Councillor Talib Hussain, said: "Local people and local Councillors have been waiting a long time to see houses being built on this site so this is great news which I am sure will be welcomed by the Fir Vale community. It's wonderful to see the consultation process starting and I look forward to seeing people moving into new homes."

(CD/JP)