Great news – Hollin Busk saved!

Great news – campaign to save wonderful green fields at Hollin Busk near Stocksbridge succeeds as Sheffield Council planning committee refuse permission for unsustainable car-centric low density housing. Well done everyone who worked so hard for this result!

A planning application for 78 low density houses on beautiful green fields at Hollin Busk near Stocksbridge has just been refused by Sheffield City Council’s planning committee, despite a strong recommendation by planning officers to approve. The refusal reasons were on visual impact and heritage grounds though these still remain to be finalised.

We were part of a very strong campaign by local action group, the Friends of Hollin Busk, who garnered over 800 objections to the plans plus the backing of local councillors and the local MP, Miriam Cates. Our colleagues at the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust also objected. The committee turned it down by 11 votes to 1. We had sent strong objections at every stage of the application, stating it to be a highly inappropriate site for development: formerly designated open space, adjacent to the green belt and highly unsustainable in terms of low carbon living, especially being completely car dependent.

After the defeat of the unsustainable Owlthorpe Fields application near Mosborough, we hope that the city planners will start to take a tougher line with mediocre housing plans which do nothing for the climate or biodiversity crises or meet the very real need for affordable housing.