Sheffield green belt: Allotment firm fights order to remove green belt development
A private allotment company is set to appeal after plans for a development in green belt were refused.
Roots Allotment was seeking approval for a track, three shipping containers, a large tipi and signs in a field between Loicher Lane and Butterthwaite Lane in Ecclesfield, Sheffield.
The site, called Station Pastures, opened in June.
But the application was refused over harm to the appearance of the green belt, traffic safety on Loicher Lane and failing to show how the operation would boost bio-diversity.
The decision comes as Sheffield City Council is consulting on plans for 3,529 homes and business parks on 14 green belt plots, including eight in S35, which includes Ecclesfield, Chapeltown, High Green, Grenoside and Oughtibridge.
William Gay, of Roots Allotments said they would appeal the decision to “ensure growers can continue something humans have practised for 10,000 years.”
He said: “Allotments do not require a change of use on agricultural land as proved in past case law.
“It’s important for the planning system to be more accommodating for food growing, especially in a climate crisis and with allotment waiting lists being sky high - access to growing spaces is at an all time low.
“We applied for ancillary aspects of our project that are essential to partake in agriculture and will be appealing the decision to ensure that our growers can continue taking part in something we humans have practised for 10,000 years - a long time before the planning system was invented.”