Wharncliffe Side Green Belt Plans

Plans to build 3,948 new homes on green belt in Sheffield are controversial among residents. These plans include 1,666 homes in S35, 103 of which are in the "Horse Field" area of Wharncliffe Side. Other areas of green belt in S35 that are included in the plans are Chapeltown, Oughtibridge, Grenoside, and Ecclesfield.

Planned Green Belt Housing Development in the Wharncliffe Side Area of Sheffield

NWS31 on the below graphic is the green belt area of Wharncliffe Side marked for 103 new houses. The area lies between Storth Lane and School Lane. It spans 3.85 hectares and housing will take up 3.42 hectares of the space.

The Sheffield Plan notes that building on this site impacts a Heritage Asset and states that consideration should be given  to the impact of any proposal before the planning application. The recommendations in the Heritage Impact Assessment that supports the Local Plan should be implemented.

The plans to develop on Green Belt in Wharncliffe Side highlight the need to consider flood risk and require a 15-metre buffer from the adjacent Local Wildlife Site. This buffer must be measured from the edge of the tree canopy. The plans also aim to keep the existing public footpath in place. According to the Sheffield Plan, hedgerows in the area must be preserved to act as important wildlife corridors.

The Sheffield plan states that the horse field development must include a full assessment of how the project could affect the environment. Where there are negative impacts, developers are expected to provide compensatory improvements — such as enhancing the environmental quality and public access to the remaining Green Belt land. The plan also acknowledges that flood risk must also be properly addressed.

As this site is a green belt area, the Government’s “Golden Rules” apply - developers must provide affordable housing in the zone among the private housing. At a recent drop-in event in Chapeltown, councillors confirmed that 30% of the homes built on green belt areas of Sheffield would be classed as affordable — with the majority expected to be social housing for rent.

Plans to build on Horse Field Wharncliffe Side

How to Object to Plans to Build Houses on The Horse Field, Wharncliffe Side

There is a local campaign in Wharncliffe Side to oppose these green belt plans. Check out the We All Need To Breathe green belt campaign website for Wharncliffe Side and join the Wharncliffe Side Facebook group for more info.