Clive Betts: "Planning should be done with the public, not to the public"
It’s been a busy week for the campaign.
After a full week of preparation and Monday’s hearing, the team has been catching up on family life and work we put on hold to make it happen.
We’re sorry for the delay in getting an update to you - and we’ll be sharing a full report from our S13 hearing very soon.
In the meantime, we wanted to share something important: Clive Betts MP’s address to the inspectors on Wednesday morning.
In a powerful statement, Clive Betts MP stood up for South East Sheffield - challenging the Council’s Local Plan as unfair and unbalanced.
He made clear that he supports new homes, including some on greenfield and even greenbelt land where necessary, but insisted that development must be planned properly, with infrastructure in place and the public genuinely involved:
“I don't see planning as a technicality, it actually helps shape the environment and society in which we live, and it's something that should be done. It should be done with the public, not to the public.”
Key Points from His Address
A demand for engagement: He criticised the Council’s lack of consultation - “no letters, no leaflets, no real dialogue” - and praised community groups from S12 and S13 for filling the gap.
“The process then has not been one about listening to people and taking views. It’s been about telling the public what’s going to happen and justifying it, and being defensive and reacting to people. It’s not been a process of engagement … and I’m very, very disappointed about the way it’s been done.”
Infrastructure first: Betts warned that developments such as Handsworth Hall Farm must not proceed without the tram-train connection, proper road planning, and provision for schools and healthcare.
“It’s no good saying, ‘we’ll deal with that when we get round to individual site applications.’ There has to be, as part of the local plan, a recognition and a way forward to ensure that education and health requirements are met.”
A city divided: He painted a stark picture of Sheffield’s inequalities - “life expectancy changes by ten years along a single bus route” - and warned that the Local Plan risks deepening that divide.
🎥 Watch Clive Betts MP’s full statement on YouTube:
Why It Matters
We want to be clear that our campaign is not politically affiliated and represents residents from across all parties and none.
That said, Mr Betts’ intervention was welcome and appreciated by the S13 community - many residents felt their concerns had been voiced clearly to the inspectors and planning officers.
The Sheffield Star also covered Mr Betts’ statement, highlighting his call for fairness and his suggestion of alternative sites that could reduce the need for green belt release:
This has been a consistent message from Mr Betts over the years - he’s long argued for balanced development across the whole city. Here’s a short clip from 2012, where he made many of the same points about fairness, consultation, and proper planning:
❤️ Thank you again for your continued support - every message, share, poster, and show of solidarity helps strengthen our campaign.
We’ll be in touch soon with a full report on Monday’s hearing and what comes next for the campaign.
The Hearings: News Articles
The hearings has sparked wide media interest, with coverage appearing in both local and national outlets. Here’s a couple we found most interesting:
You can explore all the latest coverage on our website’s Press Articles page, where we’re adding new pieces every day as they come in.
👍 Support the cause
Photo competition
Don’t forget our photo competition. We’re looking for photos of our beautiful S13 green belt to include in our 2026 calendar.
See competition details on the website.
Details on how to buy the 2026 calendar in local shops, ready for Christmas, will follow shortly.
Contact
If you want to get in touch please email us at either:
info@saves13greenbelt.org.uk - email the working group.
website@saves13greenbelt.org.uk - suggestions/additions to the website.
