Sheffield considers greenbelt options for housing

The authority estimates it needs to find space for around 43,000 homes in its local plan and while most can be sited within existing urban areas a new consultation document puts the case for some building on the greenbelt.

It identifies four areas of the city already served by the Supertram, or with potential to be connected to it, that would be best suited for new housing.

However, the council has not identified particular pieces of land and officials have stressed nothing is set in stone at this stage.

Coun Leigh Bramall, the council’s cabinet member for business, skills and development, said: “We absolutely do not want to build on the green belt and we are determined that we are going to maximise building on brownfield land.

“Ninety five per cent of all the sites we are looking at over the housing we can accommodate is brownfield land.”

The authority will look at measures to further reduce the need to encroach on greenbelt and greenfield including allowing taller residential buildings in the city centre.

Discussions will also be held with neighbouring authorities.

Local plans have proved controversial in council districts across the region with many communities opposing the scale of housebuilding proposed.

The Government has criticised councils for slow progress on local plans and warned that Ministers will intervene in authorities that have not produced plans by 2017.

The Sheffield Plan consultation document will be published on the council’s website on Thursday.