# Fears for the dead and food stores amid plans to build 3,500 homes on farmland

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/fears-for-the-dead-and-food-stores-amid-plans-to-build-3500-homes-on-farmland/
- Published: 2026-09-06T08:04:22+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-06T09:32:19+00:00
- Original publisher: YorkshireLive Sheffield
- Original article: https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/local-news/fears-dead-food-stores-amid-34571774
- Topics: Culture, Elections, Food, Government, Politics, Sheffield

## Key points

- Campaigners oppose Sheffield's plan for 3,500+ homes on green belt land
- Concerns raised over loss of top farmland and burial space shortages
- Critics say Sheffield's housebuilding delivery, not land supply, is the real issue

## Summary

Campaigners from Sheffield's green belt protection group criticised council plans to build more than 3,500 homes on farmland, warning of threats to food security and burial capacity. Three activists addressed a Sheffield Council policy committee meeting this week, objecting to the authority's draft Local Plan, which earmarks 14 sites across roughly 800 acres of green belt land, mostly in the south-east and north of the city, for development running to 2039.

Campaigner Gillian Travis said over half of the proposed 230 hectares of green belt release is classed as "best and most versatile" farmland, representing around 10% of Sheffield's entire high-quality agricultural land. A separate submission raised concerns over a shortage of burial space, urging the council to buy a plot next to Wisewood Cemetery due for auction on 21 September at a guide price of £80,000. Michael Parkin argued the housing shortfall reflects poor delivery rather than a lack of land, noting Sheffield built only 5,313 of 9,092 required homes over three years. Due to the pre-election period ahead of a Walkley by-election, councillors did not respond to the statements.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.