Rejected Hollin Busk planning application goes to appeal
It came as a great relief to many people across Stocksbridge and Deepcar when Sheffield City Council rejected the latest planning application to develop Hollin Busk by 12 votes to 1. Sadly, the developer has appealed this decision to the national Planning Inspectorate, which is set to hold an inquiry commencing June 22, a previous proposal for this locally important site having been rejected by the Secretary of State in 1990.
I am pleased to be speaking at the inquiry on behalf of myself and my constituents.
Sheffield Council has a policy of developing brownfield sites first, and at present they seem to be delivering their housing land supply targets so there is no need to develop this treasured green space. Perhaps more importantly the site is an important part of the rural fringe around Stocksbridge, Deepcar and Bolsterstone. It would therefore be indefensible to threaten this well-used local natural resource.
The campaign against this development has been supported across local communities and I've been working with local residents and the Friends of Hollin Busk group, and recently joined with them to demonstrate the strength of feeling amongst the local community against the development.
People across Stocksbridge, Deepcar, and Bolsterstone are united against this proposed development.
Whilst it is the case that Sheffield City Council have not undertaken to deliver a local plan, it is clear that there is a local consensus for protecting Hollin Busk from development, and so we will be seeking to show the inquiry that the proposed development will:
- harm the landscape and visual amenity of this important area of open space
- unacceptably impact the character and intrinsic beauty of a site which is an integral part of the countryside
- substantially harm the setting of designated heritage assets with no substantial public benefits
- undermine the role the site plays in visually separating the established settlements of Deepcar and Stocksbridge
As an MP I have no formal powers of planning, but I look forward to making the case for the continued protection of this green open and rural site, and I will be standing alongside local communities in saying that it is not a suitable development for the area.
Hollin Busk development decision - July 202
