Sheffield residents are feeling insulted and ignored after councillors voted in favour of a Local Plan that builds on cherished green-belt land. 

Following an Extraordinary Meeting on Wednesday, Sheffield City Council voted 45-31 to implement the Sheffield Local Plan, with four abstaining. 

This plan will see an additional 3,529 homes and accompanying infrastructure built across 14 green belt sites , mostly in the north of the city. 

Warren Lane resident Godfrey Pell said in the meeting: “This is hypocrisy, this is an insult to all the residents that are here tonight!”

The meeting contained three petitions, 80 questions, and 20 statements from the public, all pleading with the council to amend these plans to guarantee better protection of the green belt. 

Although Cllr Tom Hunt confirmed that only 3.6% of the green belt would be unlocked, over 75% of development on it is earmarked for just S13. 

Sapphire McCarthy, addressed the council with a 3,700 signature petition to stop development in Handsworth. 

She said: “We have very little green belt, and yet we’re the ones being asked to sacrifice it.” 

Residents do not feel that due process was followed during public consultations in 2020 and 2023, with most being unaware of the plan until it was due to be voted on. 

Mark Ash, resident on Warren Lane for eight years, called out the council during his address: “Do our councillors want this to be their legacy?”

Cllr Hunt stated that this plan will be “brownfield first”, with 18,000 homes planned for brownfield land in the city centre. 

‘Golden rules’ have been written, to set high standards for affordable housing, green spaces, and infrastructure alongside development . This includes a 30% affordable housing quota in some areas, and a 10% biodiversity quota. 

Mr Ash later added: “I don’t have any confidence that they will listen to us.”

“I bet about 80% of the residents still don’t know. How they’ve gone about this is all wrong.”

If the plan was not passed, the process would have restarted with a new, higher housing quota, requiring the council to build on more green belt land. 

Cllr Hunt later revealed that no restrictions can be placed on developers, leaving much ambiguity towards both the use of brownfield land and the future affordability of housing built. 

The plan will now enter a six-week public consultation stage, beginning on the 29th May. 
You can share your views at: https://haveyoursay.sheffield.gov.uk/