An ambitious regeneration masterplan for Sheffield will “contribute to the economy and keep money in people’s back pockets.”
Speaking to Sheffield Wire earlier today, Cllr Ben Miskell discussed the plans for regeneration in Sheffield, and how that encompassed housing.
The Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, Cllr Miskell, spoke of the council’s “masterplan”, which contributes to the building of 20,000 homes across Sheffield by 2039 in central areas, Neepsend and Furnace Hill, Moorfoot and the station.
These developments include an intended 20% of affordable housing with a variety of different models and tenures suitable for different people.
Cllr Miskell said: “We realise that the market hasn’t worked in Sheffield as much as we would have wanted it to in terms of providing the sorts of homes that people need.”
He said their aims were, “to improve the housing quality but also to be able to get more affordable homes and more social rented homes as well”.
These types of affordable developments come at a key time, with Sheffield falling short in comparison to other major cities across England.
Data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government showed that there was no additional affordable housing provided by local authorities in Sheffield between 2023-24.
Cllr Miskell attributed some of the city’s loss of social housing to the Right to Buy scheme, where properties have been lost from council ownership and taken into the public sector.
A lack of council homes in Sheffield is a growing issue, with the waiting list standing at nearly 25,000 people.
Cllr Tom Hunt announced in February 2024 that there would be 1000 new council homes built by 2029 however, a report by Yayha Aydin into low use homes in Sheffield showed that there are over 700 vacant council homes.
Cllr Miskell said: “We are working with registered social landlords and with government agents Homes England in order to package together different sites across the city to be able to develop social housing.”
He acknowledged growing rent prices and said: “We are committed to making sure that people have a home, at a rent level they can enjoy.”
