Builders target Green Belt

A ban on building in Rotherham's green belt has sparked off protests by builders

Planners are worried developers are targeting greenfield sites instead of Rotherham's stock of former industrial land.

Next week councillors will be asked to back a moratorium on building in the green belt to persuade developers to opt for brownfield sites instead. While some greenfield sites may be allocated for housing in Rotherham's new Unitary Development Plan, they are likely to be sidelined until the town's brownfield sites are used up.

But today it was revealed the move has sparked protests from the Home Builders Federation and Mexborough-based Ben Bailey Homes.

The Federation says any moratorium could fall foul of new government rules on housebuilding which could allow more green belt land being used to meet the country's housing needs.

And Ben Bailey Homes says the council will be unable to meet Rotherham's own housing needs without some green belt development.

The moratorium is backed by the Campaign to Protect Rural England which is alarmed at the erosion of the green belt across the UK.

A council plan to make £1million from the sale of land to developers Bryant Homes for a housing scheme at Thorpe Hesley was thrown out by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott because part of it was in the green belt.

Mr Prescott said Rotherham had a good stock of reclaimed industrial land which should be used first for housebuilding.

Planning officials say any development scheme on green belt land faces being vetted by the Deputy Prime Minister and would almost certainly be rejected.

A planning spokesman said: "It has become increasingly difficult to justify the release of greenfield sites due to the number of brownfield sites that have become available.

"The moratorium would contribute to the renewal and regeneration of derelict land and areas blighted by it."

Date: 4th May 2006
Source: Sheffield Today