An MP has spoken out against the unfair distribution of houses that have been approved to be built across 14 greenbelt sites in Sheffield.
The controversial plan approved more than 3,500 homes in an Extraordinary Council Meeting on Wednesday, which according to MP Clive Betts, ‘fall overwhelmingly on the east and north of the city’.
Mr Betts, Labour MP for Sheffield South East said: “My constituents are not of a Not in My Backyard mindset, they understand the need for more housing so younger generations can afford properties the way they did. What they do have though is a keen sense of fairness; and currently I am not convinced these proposals are fair”.
A report states that the concentration in the North and South East is due to land being put forward by owners, current and planned public transport especially railway stations and tram stops and proximity to jobs and local facilities.
The meeting agreed to the local plan which will develop around 3.6% of the city’s greenbelt into housing, schools and cemeteries.
This comes after government inspectors told the council it needs to build 3,529 extra new homes above its target and to consider greenbelt land.
In total, this will be more than 38,000 homes by 2039.
Cllr Tom Hunt, Labour Walkley Ward, the leader of Sheffield city council said in the meeting: “We owe it to the next generation to build the new homes we need. We’ve built sustainable houses before, we can do it again. Let’s not waste this opportunity”.
The council says they were forced to choose greenbelt land as all brownfield has already been maximised within the city.
Cllr Angela Argenzio, Green party for Broomhill and Sharrow Vale said in the meeting: “Over 90% of the housing is going to be on brownfield and urban areas. Over half of that is going to be in the central area”.
Thousands of residents objected to the plans and gathered outside the town hall while the meeting was underway in protest.
Any development will still need to go through planning and there will be public consultations over the summer before public hearings in the autumn.
