Local plan: Sheffield’s long-awaited blueprint to build 35,700 new homes

It has been a very long time coming after several delays that left Sheffield relying on outdated policies and with less control over where developments went for years.

If there are no further delays, the local plan will come into action by the end of 2024 and guide where all developments are built until 2039.

In a report prepared for a special meeting of the transport, regeneration and climate change committee this week, officers outlined the overall vision.

They said: “In 2039, Sheffield will be a fair, inclusive and environmentally sustainable city. It will be playing a nationally significant economic role at the heart of its region, with thriving neighbourhoods and communities, and have a distinct urban and rural identity.”

Officers said the housing goal was to build 2,100 new homes per year across 317 sites, totalling 35,700.

The council estimated at least 85 percent will be built on brownfield – previously developed – land.

This is far off the government’s target of 53,500 and less than the council’s own target, 40,000, before the government increased its requirement.

A decision to not follow the government’s suggestion was made earlier this year. Councillors said it was as if the government wrote it “on the back of a fag packet” and the authority would need to build “castles in the sky” in order to hit them.

The 35,700 target, however, is within the range suggested by Iceni Projects who assessed need and found between 1,994 and 2,323 additional homes per year were needed to align with jobs growth goals.

Officers said: “Like most other parts of the country, there is a significant need for new homes in Sheffield. This is being driven by rising birth rates, falling death rates, migration and a fall in average household size (partly linked to an ageing population). The shortage of homes is being reflected in increasing homelessness, overcrowding, unaffordable housing and long council housing waiting lists. These issues have been widely reported by both local and national media. These issues were also discussed with members when considering the Sheffield Plan spatial options.”

All housing developments of 10 or more new homes will be required to contribute towards affordable housing.

This will be a minimum of 30 percent in north-west, south and south-west Sheffield and 10 percent in: the city centre; Manor, Arbourthorne and Gleadless; east Sheffield; north-east Sheffield; urban west Sheffield; south-east Sheffield; Stocksbridge and Deepcar; Chapeltown and Ecclesfield; and rural Upper Don Valley.

Where will the new homes be built?

Of the 35,700 new homes, more than half (18,465 or 52 percent) will be built in and around the city centre in response to the climate and biodiversity emergencies.

Key central sites are in Neepsend, Wicker Riverside, Castlegate, Furnace Hill and Moorfoot.

The remaining 17,235 (48 percent) will be built in the rest of the city at key sites including Oughtibridge Paper Mill (311 homes), Attercliffe Canalside (596 homes), Norton Aerodrome (270 homes) and Steins Tip in Deepcar (428 homes).

Net zero

The plan is designed to support the creation of 20-minute neighbourhoods where most people’s everyday needs are only a short walk or cycle ride away but the city will need significantly more support from the government to deliver improved public transport.

There are also a number of new requirements on developers to ensure Sheffield meets net zero.

From January 1, 2025, all developments will be expected to deliver a 75 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions over the 2013 standards through measures such as using renewable energy and connecting to a heating network.

From January 1, 2030, the council will tighten standards even further and require evidence that all developments are net zero carbon.

Employment and business

The plan proposes creating 11.5 hectares of employment land per year – comprising an average of 2.9 hectares of office space and 8.6 hectares of industry and warehousing space per year.

Offices will continue to be mostly built in the city centre and industry will be located in established employment areas such as Lower Don Valley, the Upper Don Valley, Holbrook Industrial Estate and Smithywood.

Have your say

A public consultation on the draft plan is expected to take place for six weeks from Monday, January 9 to Monday, February 20 next year.

Councillors are due to approve the draft plan in a special transport, regeneration and climate change committee meeting on Thursday, November 3.

The meeting is scheduled to start at 9.30am and should be available to watch via live webcast here: https://democracy.sheffield.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=645&MId=8507

To read the full draft plan, visit: https://democracy.sheffield.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=645&MId=8507