Ban on building in Rotherham's green belt is expected to be lifted

A ban on building in Rotherham's green belt is expected to be lifted tomorrow.
Planners introduced the restriction two years ago after claims developers were targeting greenfield sites instead of former industrial land

While some greenfield sites were allocated for housing in Rotherham's latest Unitary Development Plan they were sidelined until the town's brownfield sites are used up.

But the move sparked protests from some builders who said it fell foul of government rules on housebuilding which said green belt land for sale may have to be used to meet the country's housing needs.

One builder, Ben Bailey Homes, claimed at the time the council would be unable to meet Rotherham's own housing needs without some green belt development.

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

But tomorrow planners will ask for the ban to be lifted because they say the situation has "changed significantly".

Prime MInister Gordon Brown has set up the Homes and Community Agency with the target of building three million new homes in the UK, with outgoing Sheffield Council chief executive Sir Bob Kerslake appointed to lead the new agency.

In a report to councillors, planning officer Nick Ward says: "The moratorium was introduced to contribute to meeting Rotherham's brownfield target and promote urban renaissance, regeneration and housing renewal.

"Since the introduction of the moratorium several of the factors that informed the decision have changed, in particular there has been new government guidance which places greater emphasis on overall delivery of higher numbers of homes."

Rotherham's housing target have gone up from 4,000 to 5,800 homes by 2013 but the council says it cannot meet the target without using greenfield land.

Source: www.thestar.co.uk

People views on planning 50,000 new homes

Bradford district People are urged to give their views on Government plans to build 50,000 new homes across by 2026.

Bradford Council has been told to prepare plans to meet the future housing needs of the district.

The proposals in the Regional Spatial Strategy mean that the Council could be forced to remove land from the existing green belt land to create new places to live and to expand existing larger settlements.

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It also needs to look at brownfield sites - land for sale that has previously been developed - around urban areas to see if there is scope for more housing.

The Council is considering a range of options which are summarised in the Core Strategy document which will form part of the Local Development Framework. It is available on the Council's website at bradford.gov.uk/ldf and all the main Council libraries. Residents are invited to workshops to discuss these and other options so the Council can gather people's views on how and where these housing needs should be met and the implications for the district.

The workshops will take place on: l Wednesday, March 5, Thornton Primary School, 6.30pm to 9pm; l Saturday, March 8, Victoria Hall, Saltaire, 10am to 1pm; l Wednesday, March 12, Thornbury Centre, Bradford, 1pm to 4pm; l Saturday, March 15, Ridings Hall, Ilkley, 10am to 1pm; l Wednesday, March 19, Temple Row Centre, Keighley, 6pm to 9pm.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, executive member for environment and culture, said: "The Government has told us to prepare plans to provide land for at least 50,000 homes by 2026 and we need to work together to ensure these housing needs are met, but not at the expense of the appearance and vitality of the district.

"We need people's views so that we can make effective representations to Government and deliver what is in the best interests of all current and future residents of the Bradford district."

Source: thetelegraphandargus.co.uk