Sean Bean makes donation to green belt campaign
Actor Sean Bean has donated £5,000 to a campaign to stop housing developments on green belt land in the Sheffield neighbourhood where he grew up.
The city’s council has approved proposals which could open up land for more than 1,700 new homes in Handsworth as part of the area’s Local Plan, which council leader Tom Hunt previously said was needed to “tackle the housing crisis”.
About 4,000 people have signed a petition against the plans to make the land open for development, which they said could see 90% of Handsworth’s green space lost.
“We mean businesses,” said Bean, who added: “We are not going to let it go like that.”
The proposals for Handsworth also include building a new mainstream secondary school and a burial site.
Similar infrastructure, including employment space, has also been earmarked for other areas of the city, with a total of 3,500 new homes planned.
Residents in S13 formed the ‘Save S13 Greenbelt – The Sapphire McCarthy Campaign’ to oppose the plans.
They said more than half of the proposed new housing for Sheffield was being focused in that postcode area and claimed additional housing could overwhelm local infrastructure “that is already failing to meet demand”, as well as lead to increased traffic congestion and pollution.
However, the council said it had explored all available opportunities to develop brownfield sites.
About 3.6% of the city’s green belt land, across 14 different sites, would be developed under its proposals.
Cheryl Hague from the Save S13 Greenbelt group praised the “fantastic” donation from their most high-profile member.
“As well as boosting the coffers it has really increased morale in the long fight to Save the S13 Greenbelt,” she added.
‘The people’s land’
Bean, 66, previously said it would be “devastating” to lose the land, which he described as a “hub” for the Handsworth community.
“The green belt means a lot to me because I grew up all around that area and so did all my friends from that area and family,” the Game of Thrones star added.
“It’s the only bit of greenery really around that area. It would be a tragedy if that’s all built over. It’s the people’s land, there’s plenty of other places to go.”
Residents in the S35 area, which includes Ecclesfield, Chapeltown and Wharncliffe Side, have also expressed their opposition to the proposals.
The government’s planning inspectors are expected to issue a report on the plans, which could recommend moderations or even their withdrawal, early next year.
Sheffield Council said a final vote on its Local Plan would likely take place next summer.
The Save S13 Greenbelt group previously revealed it had already raised more than £10,000 to pay for legal costs to fight the proposals.
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- Sean Bean criticises green belt plan in home city
- Thousands of homes approved for green belt sites
- Plans to build on 14 green belt sites criticised
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