Green belt can be left free

The Core Strategy plans to provide 14,371 new homes by 2028, which equates to just over 1,000 per annum.

I have just received the minutes from the October Area Assembly meeting which states that although there were 25,314 people on the council housing register, only 5,000 were actually applying for houses, the vast majority of people on this list were on it just in case they need housing in the future. If the Local Housing Plan figures of 14,371 new homes by 2028 are as misleading as the figures for council tenants actually needing a council house, we could be using Green Belt land for houses, which are not actually required for local people.

It would therefore seem logical that the true amount of development NEEDED for Rotherham region could easily be accommodated on “Brownfield sites”, leaving the green fields to grow much needed local food crops.

I also sent a copy of my previous letter to the Minister for Housing and Planning, Mr Brandon Lewis MP at the House of Commons. Mr Lewis had stated in a national newspaper that the Government Policy was to safeguard the Green Belt by developing brown field sites as a priority for local housing.

I have yet to receive a reply.

Alan Smith, Church Street, Rawmarsh