Letter to Fran Belbin: show residents the evidence
Michael Parkin wrote on behalf of the Sheffield Green Belt Alliance to Councillor Fran Belbin, Leader of Sheffield City Council, asking her to publish the advice behind statements that the Local Plan cannot be changed without starting again, and the figures behind warnings of higher housing targets. The email was copied to Sheffield councillors and senior Council officers.
The email is reproduced below as sent. You can also read Fran Belbin's letter of 21 September 2026 to Matthew Pennycook MP, obtained from the Leader's office following our request.
Dear Cllr Belbin,
The Star today (3 November) reports you as saying the plan cannot be rewritten without starting again.
Rewriting the plan and changing it are different things. The Council can still ask the Inspectors to consider changes to the Green Belt sites before they report. If you have been told that is not possible, who advised that, and where can residents read that advice?
It also reports that starting again would mean higher housing targets. How much higher? Please publish the figures and show how they were calculated.
Please reply to all, so councillors can see that evidence too.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Parkin
Sheffield Green Belt Alliance