Sheffield City Council will seek to amend planning policy next week to make Sheffield a better place to live.

Councillor Ian Auckland, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development and Transport at Sheffield City Council said: "It sounds a lot, to claim that changing planning policy will make Sheffield a better place to live but it's true. We have consulted with a range of organisations, individuals and the public and are happy that the amended policies will ensure that Sheffield maintains its unique character while developing sustainable communities and attracting big business."

The policies to be discussed at Cabinet deal with meeting the housing needs of different groups, protecting green open space, ensuring design is to a high standard, reducing carbon emissions and responding to the increased risk of flooding.


The Council consulted on the new policies in April and May and proposes to adopt many of the changes suggested by businesses and members of the public.

The Council proposes to increase the amounts of affordable housing in new schemes but will negotiate levels of affordable housing that are viable for developers. Impacts of shared housing would have a more local assessment than was originally proposed and the rules for protecting open space would be further strengthened. It is also proposed to change the requirements for reducing carbon emissions, requiring decentralised renewable energy generation as well as promoting more sustainable design.

Mr Auckland added: "The changes in policy are designed to directly benefit the city. We want to ensure that Sheffield retains its famous green spaces and protect them for the future. We want to ensure developers can get on and aren't tied up in red tape. We want to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable design. Overall we want a better Sheffield for the people who live and work here."

(CD/JM)