Revised green belt plans to be unveiled

A summer of consultation on a 15-year development plan kicks off in Thurcroft on Tuesday afternoon.

The Local Development Framework will outline how much housing and employment land is needed and ask where it should go.

Region-led targets in 2009 suggested that up to 34,000 new properties might be needed—threatening 2,700 acres of cherished countryside.

Thousands attended heated meetings in the backlash which followed, voicing angry opposition to the plans.

Mark II of the LDF sees Rotherham Borough Council going it alone and setting its own targets, saying 12,750 homes will be needed by 2026.

A council spokeswoman said: “The consultation is about not only the overall strategy, which sets out how much development and where, but also the details of potential development sites across Rotherham.

“During July, August and September, the public are being urged to have a look at and comment on the proposals, which will be outlined in two documents.”

The Draft Core Strategy is the overall plan and the Sites and Policies Issues and Options suggests locations for housing, employment, retail and other uses.

The council says that changes in government policy—and the public voice two years ago—are the reason for slashing the targets.

About 850 new houses will be needed a year, plus a total of 580 acres for new economic development and offices.

The spokeswoman said: “The amount of green belt being suggested to be released has been reduced by 60 per cent with the authority maintaining a ‘brownfield first’ approach.

“Only a phased release of green belt towards the end of the 15-year period, if needed.”

The documents can bee seen at Bailey House, the Civic Building, all libraries and customer service centres at Swinton, Dinnington and Maltby.

Drop-in dates for July are: Tuesday 5, Gordon Bennett Memorial Hall, Thurcroft, 1.30pm to 4.30pm; Wednesday 13, High Street Centre, Rawmarsh 1.30 to 4.30pm; Thursday 14, Full Life Church, Maltby 2pm to 6.30 pm; Saturday 16, Greasbrough Town Hall (covering Bassingthorpe Farm), 1.30pm to 5pm; Wednesday 20, Walesmoor Avenue Village Hall (covering Kiveton and Wales), 2 to 6.30 pm; Thursday 21, Dalton Parish Rooms (covering Dalton and Thrybergh), 1.30pm to 4.30pm; Monday 25, Ravenfield Parish Hall, Ravenfield, 1.30pm to 4.30pm; Tuesday 26, Greasbrough Town Hall, 3pm to 7pm; Wednesday 27, Dinnington Resource Centre, 1.30pm to 7pm.

Further dates are set for August, ahead of the September 16 deadline. Call 01709 823869 for more information.

You can give feedback online at www.rotherham.gov.uk/forwardplanning or in writing to RMBC, Forward Planning, Planning and Regeneration Service, Bailey House, Rawmarsh Road, Rotherham S60 1TD.