What The Main Modifications Consultation Means

The Government Inspectors examining the Sheffield Plan have proposed changes they say are needed before the Plan can be adopted.

These changes are called "Main Modifications".

Two of the biggest modifications are the formal addition of the S13 Green Belt sites (SES29 and SES30) into the Plan.

The Council is now required to consult the public on these changes. This is another chance to tell the Inspectors directly whether we believe these modifications are justified.

Below is an explanation of what this consultation is, how it works, and why your voice matters again.

1. What is a Main Modifications Consultation?

The Inspectors have examined the submitted Plan and concluded it can be found sound if certain changes (the Main Modifications) are made. This consultation asks one question: are those proposed changes themselves sound and legally compliant?

In plain English: the Inspectors are saying "we think these changes are needed - do you agree?"

This is a very specific, narrow consultation. The key thing to understand is what you can and cannot comment on (see below).

2. What is it NOT?

It is not a re-run of earlier consultations.

The Council's Have Your Say page is clear: you should not repeat comments made on earlier versions of the Plan, comment on parts of the Plan that are not being changed, or request new changes that don't relate to the proposed Modifications.

In practice, this means: focus on what's new. If you made a point before about flooding or traffic, you can raise it again - but only if you're connecting it to something in the new documents. The Inspectors won't consider comments that simply repeat what was said last time.

3. What Does This Mean for the S13 Green Belt?

Two of the proposed Main Modifications are the formal insertion of our Green Belt sites into the Plan:

MM410 (SES29) - Handsworth Hall Farm, Finchwell Road. 56 hectares of Green Belt released for 870 homes and 20 hectares of industrial/employment land.
MM411 (SES30) - Land between Bramley Lane and Beaver Hill Road. 35 hectares of Green Belt released for 827 homes, a secondary school and a burial ground.

That's over 1,690 homes on 91 hectares of Green Belt in S13.

These sites were proposed during the summer 2025 consultation - but the act of formally writing them into the Plan is happening now, as a Main Modification. That means comments about whether these allocations are justified go directly to the Inspectors.

4. Do I Need to Comment?

Yes. Please plan to comment - and encourage others to do the same.

This is the last formal consultation before the Inspectors write their final report. After this, the Plan goes to a Full Council vote (expected summer 2026) and councillors can only vote to adopt or reject it - they cannot change it.

If we stay silent now, the Inspectors will have no reason to reconsider. We have six weeks - we'll be providing guidance shortly on what to say and how to submit it.

5. Who Do My Comments Go To?

You send your comments to Sheffield City Council - but they are passed directly to the Government Inspectors.

You are writing for the Inspectors, not for the Council or the Planning Team. The Inspectors are independent and are required to consider every representation they receive.

There is one exception: the Council has also published a set of "Additional Modifications" (minor tweaks like grammar and formatting). Comments on those stay with the Council and are not seen by the Inspectors. Make sure your comments are about the Main Modifications if you want the Inspectors to read them.

6. Which Documents Can I Comment On?

The Council has published five documents that the Inspectors are specifically inviting comments on:

Schedule of Proposed Main Modifications to the Sheffield Plan - the list of all proposed changes, including the S13 site allocations (MM410 and MM411). This is the most important document for us.
Integrated Impact Assessment: Update and Addendum (2026) - the updated environmental and sustainability assessment of the whole Plan.
Integrated Impact Assessment Report Addendum: Modifications Consultation (with Non-Technical Summary) - a shorter assessment looking specifically at the impact of the modifications.
Habitats Regulations Assessment: Appropriate Assessment Update (2026) - assesses the impact on protected wildlife habitats.
Schedule of Changes to the Policies Map - shows how the maps change, including the Green Belt boundary changes in S13.

We know it's not realistic for every resident to read all of these - and you don't need to. We are currently working through these documents and will provide guidance on what matters most for S13. Please wait for our guidance before submitting your response - a focused, well-targeted comment carries far more weight than a rushed one.

7. Will the S13 Group Be Providing Help?

Yes.

We are working with our planning advisors to prepare a community response, and working with groups across the city to coordinate a wider objection.

We will:

Provide a simple guide to the key documents with summaries of what matters for S13
Highlight the strongest points to raise - with the modification numbers you need to reference
Offer template wording you can adapt for your own submission
Run a session to help people write and submit their comments before the deadline

Keep an eye on the website and email list - we'll share these resources as soon as they're ready.

8. What Happens After This Consultation?

Once the consultation closes, the Inspectors will read every response. They will then write their final report, which will say whether the Plan (with the modifications) is sound.

If the Inspectors approve the Plan, it goes to a Full Council vote - expected in summer 2026. Councillors can vote to adopt or reject the Plan, but they cannot change individual sites. It's all or nothing.

That's why this consultation matters so much: it's the last point where the Inspectors can be asked to reconsider specific allocations like SES29 and SES30.

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