Derbyshire green belt field saved from development, but next door field in Sheffield still at risk

The Derbyshire field which shares a hedge with the Sheffield site is “not considered developable due to heritage constraints”

A field put forward for hundreds of new homes on land on the edge of Sheffield has been ruled unsuitable - but 300 properties on neighbouring greenbelt land in the Steel City are still planned.

Jonathan Hobson campaigns with the S12 Green Belt group | BBC

placeholder image — Jonathan Hobson campaigns with the S12 Green Belt group | BBC

A field south of White Lane in Charnock was earmarked for 300-350 new homes, but North East Derbyshire District Council has ruled that the land is “not considered developable" due to heritage constraints.

But the field right next door on the Sheffield side of the boundary could still have more than 300 homes built there if Sheffield's draft Local Plan gets approved.

It is the blueprint for development in the city up to 2039 and includes a government target of 38,012 new homes in the city.

The site neighbours Charnock Hall Primary School, Charnock Park and White Lane Farm.

The fields are known to planning officials as SS19 (Sheffield site) and 45900 (NE Derbyshire site) | Google Maps/LDRS

According to a land availability assessment report by North East Derbyshire District Council report: “The site is not considered developable due to heritage constraints.

It states: “Development would result in the loss of undeveloped agricultural land within the conservation area, visible across the wider valley landscape, resulting in harm to the significance of the conservation area and erosion of the rural setting of the heritage assets at Carter Hall Farm."

The report from a North East Derbyshire Council conservation officer states: "The site forms part of the agricultural landscape that contributes to the character, appearance and significance of the Moss Valley Conservation Area and forms part of the wider rural setting of the listed heritage assets at Carter Hall Farm."

The fields are separated by a hedge, but there is a large gap at the top of the valley making access between them easy | Iconic Media

Campaigners of the S12 green belt action group in Sheffield called this a “huge win”.

Member Jonathan Hobson said: "The fields physically connect, it's a big field, it looks the same."

He said North East Derbyshire Council has ruled their field out for development for "every reason" the S12 campaign group has given for the Sheffield side.

The campaigners share arguments similar to those picked up by North East Derbyshire's consultation, including ecology, wildlife, protecting the Robin Brook watercourse, archaeological finds on the site, protection of landscape character and sloping fields throughout the valley, heritage trees and ground nesting birds.

Jonathan Hobson said the S12 group were pleased to have a new argument to protect the Sheffield field | BBC

Mr Hobson said it would now be “completely unacceptable” for the Sheffield field to be developed.

He said: “We've lost the argument of a combined development having an impact on the area, but we've essentially gained justification of everything that we've said from a completely different council.”

Cllr Alexi Diamond, Chair of the Transport, Climate and Regeneration Policy Committee, said: “Site SS19 is outside the Conservation Area and is less visually prominent than the neighbouring site in North East Derbyshire.

“The Local Plan Inspectors considered the evidence, including the landscape and heritage impact, and concluded that SS19 is suitable for housing. The site is also close to the tram route and local facilities at Gleadless.

“The Inspectors concluded that a small number of green belt sites are needed to meet Sheffield’s housing and employment needs up to 2039. Around 80% of the new homes proposed in the Plan and 75% of employment land would be on brownfield sites. The green belt sites proposed for development represent around 3.5% of Sheffield’s green belt overall.

“In the Sheffield part of the S13 postcode area, the amount of designated green belt would reduce from 469.49 hectares to 335.60 hectares under the Local Plan. This is a reduction of around 29%, not 96%. Some land removed from the green belt would become ‘urban green space zones’ and would therefore continue to be protected from development.”

The S12 campaign group says it plans to continue fighting for the field to be removed from Sheffield’s local plan.

It is understood campaigners will raise public questions about the two fields at the next full council meeting on November 4.