Sheffield green belt: Next steps for controversial housing plans as campaigners vow to fight on
‘Appalled’ protesters have said they will fight on after government inspectors gave green belt housing plans the thumbs up.
A member of the Save Grenoside, Ecclesfield Green Belt group on Facebook said: “The fight is not over yet and the group are already in action and will be challenging this throughout the long process.”
On the Save S13 Green Belt group, Cheryl Hague said they were “absolutely appalled” and the decision made the “obvious inequalities” in Sheffield “far worse - robbing us of almost our entire green belt.”
She added: “It’s been a long hard battle, but one which we still think is worth fighting for if we can.”
But it is not obvious if campaigners have anywhere to go.
As part of the Local Plan, the government wants 38,000 new homes and 654 acres for business in Sheffield by 2039.
As well as brownfield plots, it has put forward 14 sites in green belt for more than 3,500 homes and employment land.
Following public consultations in autumn - which drew more than 3,650 mostly negative comments about green belt development - government inspectors have said the plan is ‘sound’ apart from minor amendments.
They include a reduction in green belt homes off Wheel Lane, Grenoside, from 148 to 66 and in Handsworth, and a reduction in homes off Beaver Hill Road from 868 to 827.
Public consultation on the proposed modifications is expected to start in early March and last for six weeks, the city council says.
Responses will be sent back to the inspectors for review before a final report is delivered to the council.
It is expected a final decision to adopt the plan will be taken by elected members at a full council meeting in July.