17/08/2026
It's good to see the Council leadership acknowledge that changes are needed. It's now extremely important that we ensure that those changes are the correct ones. Changes that lead to a reassessment of the current greenbelt allocations and look at ways to cut the number of properties needing to be built on the greenbelt, as well as ensuring a much fairer distribution across the city rather than the current concentration centred around S12, S13 and S35.
Housing density needs to be looked at. The Inspectorate asked for the greenbelt allocations to concentrate primarily on family homes. These have a lower density in urban areas than flats and smaller houses. However, is this really the type of properties Sheffield will need?
We are about to hit a major crisis in the private rented sector which could alter the type of properties Sheffield needs over the course of the Plan. A significant number of people aged 55-64, who are currently living in privately rented properties, mostly family sized homes, are due to hit retirement age over the course of the Plan and will be looking to downsize to smaller properties such as retirement bungalows, maisonettes and one/two bed flats and houses. These types of properties have a much higher density in urban areas due to their smaller footprint
As well as changing the primary property types required in Sheffield over the course of the Plan, this crisis would see the availability of the number of family sized homes in the private rental sector increase as retirees move out and downsize. Has this been factored into the current draft Local Plan and what difference would this make to the current greenbelt allocations if smaller properties are needed rather than the expected family sized homes?
Density could also be increased on planned brownfield sites if the focus needs to be changed to smaller homes, maisonettes and flats.
If homes do still need to be built on some of our greenbelt then the distribution needs to be much fairer. Currently 44% of the planned greenbelt loss effects one postcode, S13 Handsworth in our Sheffield South East constituency, with the rest predominantly effecting two further postcodes, S12 and S35.
This is blatantly unfair.
Alternate sites have been put forward that would ensure a far fairer distribution and ensure the burden is shared by communities across Sheffield and not just 2 or 3 individual areas of the city.
No sitting councillor should consider voting to pass this plan in its current form. Changes are desperately needed before this plan can be judged to be acceptable.
There is a big difference between a plan that meets the legislative threshold of the Planning Inspectorate and a plan that genuinely meets the needs of the people of Sheffield.
https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/council-leader-is-hugely-sympathetic-but-will-have-to-look-at-some-green-belt-development-8920984?fbclid=Iwb21leATtFZJjbGNrBO0VjHBkb2YFZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEe9-gCo9WdwsV4P3bVHOw15L_Kvf2nkEhRIMP8qeZyz-XZX5vzJQjpCg3lLnw_aem_ACTMRFfvL6eTZzuw397QTw
