A decision which could lead to thousands of houses being built on greenfield sites in Sheffield ‘just feels wrong’, a leading councillor has said.

Sheffield Council has approved the decision to build on greenfield sites in the north and southeast areas of the city despite outcry from the public and councillors.

Lib Dem councillor Kurtis Crossland, who is chair of the communities committee, during a meeting of strategy and resources on Wednesday, said: “Despite the leader saying previously in this session the decisions are best taken by those closest to them, the people closest don’t want it and yet we are ignoring those people.

“It just feels wrong to me.”

The sites chosen for a plan pushed by the government provide an estimated capacity for 3,948 dwellings and 67.35 ha of employment land.

Some of these sites include Grenoside, Oughtibridge, Gleadless Townend and Handsworth. 

People in Grenoside have been vocal about their disapproval of the plans and have set up a petition to prevent developments which reached 1,458 signatures. 

Writing on the petition, one resident said: “Building on our beautiful greenbelt land is completely unacceptable.

“The council should be focusing on rejuvenation of abandoned land, not eating into the greenbelt, Grenoside doesn’t have the facilities or infrastructure to support 100s more homes.”

However council strategic planner Simon Vincent told the meeting that the authority believes it has done all it can to ‘avoid’ using greenbelt sites.

Mr Vincent also stressed the importance of the plan and that the council has already negotiated to minimise the amount of houses to be built. 

He said: “We recognise that the development on greenfield sites with the communities that are affected but if more land is not provided it is almost certain that the Sheffield plan will be found unsound.”

The government inspector wrote a letter to the council saying it welcomed the regeneration of the city and that Sheffield “is one of their top current locations in England for partnership and funding work”.

The proposal will now go through to full council on 14  May. 

During the meeting Coun Leader Coun Tom Hunt emphasised the public can raise concerns with the agenda at a meeting in autumn.