Overview

• Sheffield’s draft local plan allocates 1,638 homes on Handsworth green-belt fields, split between sites off Bramley Lane and Finchwell Lane.
• Bean praised Save S13 Greenbelt – The Sapphire McCarthy Campaign and vowed to “see this through,” after the group secured planning consultants, barristers and funds.
• Public hearings with government planning inspectors begin next week to examine the plan, with potential modifications to follow before any adoption next summer.
• The council says the 14 proposed green-belt releases amount to about 3.6% of the city’s green belt after brownfield options were exhausted, with site availability influencing choices.
• Campaigners argue the new estates would worsen traffic and pollution and strain schools and health services already under pressure from nearby growth.