Housing shortage

Despite the inference implicit in his letter, (The Star, December 1, 2015), might I reassure Paul Colk that approximately 10 years ago, developers earmarked many ‘prime’ sites on Parson Cross, hence the subsequent pattern of demolition and the insensitive displacement of people standing in the way of the bulldozer.

Despite those developers backing out, others have moved in and many of those brownfield sites are now being redeveloped. But every new home built came at a heavy cost to those driven from familiar homes and neighbourhoods.

Yet, does simply replacing council stock with private resolve the housing shortage?

I often sense resentment in the many references to ‘favoured’ areas but much of the money poured in is as a result of this demolition and deliverance of brownfield sites for new development and the need for restoration in order to make the areas more attractive for newcomers.

Many of the areas mentioned have suffered the same fate and will take some years to settle down.

Without further demolition, Parson Cross has little or no room for further housing development and, in any case, we have had our fair share of distress and disruption!

So yes, Mr Colk, the council does have the will to develop these areas but, sadly, long-standing residents have paid dearly.

Mary Steele

Deerlands Avenue, Parson Cross, Sheffield, S5