Purpose

A response has been set out to the queries raised by the Sheffield Plan Inspectors in correspondence with the Council following completion of the public consultation on the Proposed Main Modifications to the Plan.  The consultation took place from 2nd March to 5th May 2026 and followed the Inspectors’ letter to the Council on 16th January 2026 in which they stated that that the Plan was capable of being found sound subject to their proposed Main Modifications. 

Having considered the comments made on the Proposed Main Modifications, the Inspectors raised a number of queries with the Council via a letter and email (both dated 5th June 2026).  The Inspectors also suggested that consultation on a limited number of further main modifications may be necessary.  Officers provided initial responses to the Inspectors’ queries in correspondence on 2nd and 8th July.  A further note from the Inspectors was sent to the Council on 16th July in relation to early review policies.  The Inspectors wrote to the Council again on 27th July with their conclusions and recommendations on how the examination of the plan should progress.

Further approval has therefore been sought for public consultation to take place on a limited number of ‘Further Main Modifications to the Plan’ which have been proposed by the Inspectors.  Approval was also sought for consultation to be carried out on Addendum Notes which cover updates to the Integrated Impact Assessment and the Habitat Regulations Assessment – both take account of the Further Main Modifications. 

Some new evidence base documents will also be published on the Examination website at the same time as the Proposed Further Main Modifications.  The additional evidence includes an update to the Site Selection Methodology (which includes amendments due to changes to the national Agricultural Land Classification system), a revision to estimated affordable housing provision, information relating to possible access arrangements to site allocation SES29, and new evidence on the former use of site allocation SES13.

Following public consultation, the Inspectors will consider any representations on the Further Main Modifications before completing their final report.  Assuming the Inspectors report concludes that the Plan can be found sound, subject to their recommended Main Modifications and Further Main Modifications, the Council will need to decide whether to adopt the Plan.  It is anticipated that the decision on whether to adopt the Plan will be in late 2026/early 2027.

Decision

a)    Approval is given for the Further Main Modifications to the Publication (Submission) Draft Sheffield Plan proposed by the Inspectors to be the subject of public consultation

b)    Approval is given for the Addendum Notes relating to the updated Integrated Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment to be the subject of public consultation.

Reasons for the decision

Once adopted, the new Sheffield Plan will make a major contribution to the future development of the city and will guide development up to 2039.  It is a statutory requirement to produce a Local Plan and keep the Plan up to date.  The current Local Plan (comprising the Sheffield Core Strategy (2009) and ‘saved’ policies from the Sheffield Unitary Development Plan) is extremely out of date.

The new Plan will ensure that the city’s needs for housing and other uses can be met.  The Inspectors have concluded that exceptional circumstances exist in principle to justify the release of Green Belt land to deliver the level of housing and employment growth the city needs.  Without some limited release of Green Belt land, the Sheffield Plan would not be found sound.

Adoption of the Sheffield Plan will enable more affordable housing and homes for disabled people to be delivered.  It will enable higher standards to be applied to development in the city, including better space standards for new housing, and policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions and ensuring new development responds to climate change.  The Plan provides the sites and supports the strategy that ensures Sheffield’s economic and jobs growth ambitions can be realised. It also contains a range of policies aimed at securing better environmental outcomes, including for biodiversity.  It will also provide greater certainty for developers and infrastructure providers.

All the factors referred to above, highlight the importance of progressing the Sheffield Plan to adoption.  If the Plan is not adopted, it would have major financial and reputational implications for the city due to the cost of preparing a new plan and potential loss of investment from developers and Government bodies.

Alternative options considered

The options available to the Council in terms of the further Main Modifications proposed by the Inspectors are limited.  If the Council were to not consult on the further Main Modifications, it would be necessary to withdraw the Draft Local Plan and commence work on an entirely new Local Plan.  This would have major financial implications for the Council and would cause a very significant delay in getting an up-to-date Local Plan in place.