Councillors overwhelmingly reject plans for housing estate on Sheffield green site

The planning board refused to allow 85 houses to be built on fields at the junction with Carr Road and Hollin Busk Lane at Deepcar.

Friends of Hollin Busk, Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Stocksbridge Community Forum, Bolsterstone Community Group, Deepcar and Stocksbridge Walking Group, Upper Don Action Group, Friends of Hollin Busk, Stocksbridge Town Council, Miriam Cates MP and Coun Julie Grocutt joined 524 residents in opposing the scheme.

The committee debated the application for two and a half hours and voted 12-1 against it.

Coun Tony Damms was the sole councillor who voted in favour, saying he couldn't think of a valid planning reason not to support it.

The rest of the board was united in its criticism, particularly as the council had refused housing there once before.

In 1990, outline planning permission was rejected because it would damage ecology, particularly nearby Fox Glen which is an Area of Natural History Interest and Local Wildlife Site. An appeal against this refusal was dismissed in August 1991.

Coun Peter Price said: "People consider this area as countryside, they always have done and they always will.

"Thousands of new houses are being built in Stocksbridge and Deepcar so they have taken their share of new build. I overwhelmingly don't accept this."

Coun Alan Law said: "I can't support this at all. I've heard nothing that has persuaded me we should be building on this area and people feel passionate about it.

"Local people accept there's going to be thousands of houses built in Deepcar, Oughtibridge and Stocksbridge, it's this site where there is opposition.

"It's a very special area that divides Deepcar, Stocksbridge and Bolsterstone and needs defending. We have fought to keep it for the last 30 years and need to continue that."

Coun Dianne Hurst added: "We know following lockdown the mental health benefits of open sites and this is an important and special area which is valued locally."

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