Insights From The Green Belt Council Drop-In Sessions
- Verity Eyre
- Jun 11
- 3 min read
Updated: 13 hours ago
Couldn't make one of Sheffield City Council's drop-in events about the plans to develop on green belt in Sheffield? No need to worry, we were there to get all the info. And you're not too late (yet) - further events are planned over the next few weeks. If you get a chance to attend, you will find information about the plans on posters around the event (summarised below), plus you can take your chance to ask councillors questions about any concerns you may have.
At the Grenoside event on 11 June, I asked a councillor why we had to build outwards instead of upwards. The reply was that 17,000 more apartments would be built in the city centre and that this style of housing didn't meet everyone's needs. I also asked whether every resident had been sent a letter to advise them of the plans and the meetings and the answer was "no" due to tight timescales and that they were relying on "word-of-mouth".
Why Are Green Belt Sites in Sheffield Being Considered?
The original plans for development in Sheffield were rejected by "the inspectors" (not clear who these inspectors are), who said more homes and land for employment were needed. The posters state that all other options such as brownfield sites and building upwards (apartments) in the City Centre had been exhausted. Therefore 3,539 additional homes would need to be built on greenfield sites, and 52.8 hectares would be needed for employment.
What Happens if Sufficient Land Isn't Included in the Sheffield Local Plan?
The literature at the event stated that if the plan did not include sufficient land, it would most likely be rejected. A new plan would take over 18 months and may even entail even more green belt land. It is claimed that without a Plan, it will actually be easier (!) for developers to build on green belt land.
How Was The Sheffield Plan Formulated?
Initial consultations in 2020 found that the people of Sheffield had a preference for developing on brownfield rather than greenfield sites. A draft plan was then formulated which proposed 34,500 homes and 180 hectares of land for employment (most of which was on brownfield sites). In the autumn of 2023, this plan was submitted to the government and inspectors. In 2024, public hearings gave inspectors the chance to consider the details of the plans. However, the inspectors were not satisfied and in February 2025, they wrote to the council asking to find more land for homes and jobs.
How Were The Green Belt Sites in Sheffield Chosen?
The literature claims that over 100 sites were considered across the city of Sheffield and that the decision was influenced by access to public transport links, housing needs around the city, the impact on landscapes and green belt, and proximity to existing communities.
Which Green Belt Locations Will Be Built On?
At the event, you could view plans for each of the green belt areas marked for development. You can also view all of them in The Sheffield Plan, and we have highlighted some specific areas in our Green Belt Blog too:
Has The Impact Been Considered?
The posters claimed that traffic, schools, and services had been considered stating that "some road improvements are planned", there are "opportunities to improve transport services", and "health services can expand to meet demand". It is claimed that wildlife and nature would be protected from significant harm with at least 10% of biodiversity required on each site. (However, this means 90% will be lost.) Due to the "golden rules", 30% of housing on green belt sites will be used for affordable housing, most of which will be social housing rentals according to councillors. I asked a councillor whether equal priority would be given to social housing on brownfield sites and the answer was "no". It would be interesting to know how much of the planned brownfield development would be "affordable" - if any of you find out, let us know in the comments!
Do You Like These Plans to Develop on Green Belt in Sheffield?
If the answer is "no", make sure you have your say by objecting to the plans and look out for advice from your local campaign regarding specific objections that you should make for maximum effect.
Comentários