Sheffield Council plans to sell off brownfield sites to create 200 affordable homes
"We are turning vacant brownfield land into new affordable homes”
Sheffield Council is considering selling off brownfield sites across the city to be turned into social housing developments.
The proposals will be put forward at Sheffield City Council's Finance and Performance Policy Committee meeting today (Monday, September 21) and if approved would see unused brownfield sites sold to housing associations to build affordable housing.
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The sites are located in Darnall, Wincobank, Gleadless Valley, the city centre, Parson Cross, Stocksbridge and Hollins End and if approved could see the creation of 200 social rent homes.
Councillor Elle Dodd, chair of the committee, said if approved the scheme was a “big step forward” for the council.
She added: "We are turning vacant brownfield land into new affordable homes. By working with our partner housing associations we will bring forward over 200 homes at social rent in communities across Sheffield.
"This is a big step forward in building more council, social and affordable homes across the city. It’s the first time in many years that the council has used its land to enable housing associations to build homes for social rent.
"We’re delivering on Sheffield Labour's commitment to build more genuinely affordable, high-quality homes, make the best use of brownfield land, and ensure that investment and opportunity are spread throughout Sheffield."
The majority of homes, if the scheme goes ahead, would be completed in 2028 and 2029, subject to planning and funding approvals.
Sean McClean, director of Regeneration and Development at Sheffield City Council, added: “Everyone deserves a safe, secure and affordable place to call home.
“These proposals would help bring over 200 new social rent homes to Sheffield, providing housing that is genuinely affordable for local people and helping meet growing demand across the city.
“By working with trusted housing associations and making better use of underused council land, we're creating opportunities for more individuals and families to access quality homes while supporting the growth of thriving communities across Sheffield.”
The brownfield sites are included in Sheffield’s Local Plan - the blueprint for development in the city up to 2039, which includes a government target of 38,012 new homes in the city by 2039.
It has proven controversial because Sheffield Council has earmarked 14 green belt sites for more than 3,500 new homes, as well as schools, cemeteries and industrial units, which threaten about 800 acres of Sheffield’s green belt.
The brownfield sites which could be sold off to housing associations would be used to create 140 homes from the 38,012 goovernment target.