Yorkshire actor Sean Bean said: "Handsworth was my childhood home, my playground. Its woods and fields, its natural beauty were cherished and treasured by us all."
A Hollywood actor, known for starring in blockbuster films ranging from Lord of the Rings to James Bonds' Goldeneye, has condemned plans which could see more than 1,600 houses built on green belt land in his hometown of Sheffield.
Sean Bean has condemned proposals to build 1,638 homes on green belt land in Handsworth, the South Yorkshire suburb where the actor grew up.
Building new homes on green belt land
In a letter of objection to the project and Sheffield City Council, the 66-year-old, who played Ned Stark in Game of Thrones, said he has a personal connection to the area's natural environment - which was a place where he connected with nature, woodlands and the surrounding fields during his childhood.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy-Prime Minister Angela Rayner announced plans to 'overhaul' the UK's housing system to meet the needs of working people and put communities first.
National Planning Policy Framework
The Government said it would update the National Planning Policy Framework to bring back mandatory housing targets for local authorities to deliver 1.5 million new homes over the next five years.
Under pressure councils have been told by Government that if they cannot meet their housing targets, it could be forced to include green belt land alongside grey belt and brownfield sites.
Sean Bean on protecting green belt land from housing
However, Mr Bean, having portrayed a farmer in 1994's Black Beauty, said green belt land is 'treasured and cherished' by communities who appreciate and understand its connection and character to the area.
He has joined forces with the Save S13 Green Belt group, who have told Sheffield Council that the area has 'swathes of brownfield site' that should be used before encroaching on the countryside and green belt land.
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He said: "I would like to register my objection for the proposed mass building in the Handsworth area of Sheffield, where I grew up and spent some of the best years of my life," he added.
"[I am] against this draconian decision to practically obliterate the character and nature of our area.
'Cherished and treasured' landscapes
"Handsworth was my childhood home, my playground. Its woods and fields, its natural beauty were cherished and treasured by us all.
"It was the structure and inspiration that guided me to a life of opportunity and, along with its brilliant and generous community, gave me the chance to pursue a career I never thought possible.
"If these proposals are allowed to go ahead in their present form, it would devastate the area, certainly in terms of its natural habitats, but even more so on the character of its close knit and hard working community."
The Yorkshire actor said Sheffield Council has made a 'mistake' if it underestimates the strength of communities who do not want to see the countryside being paved over for housing developments.
"It seems like this working-class community and its surrounding areas have been specifically targeted," he said.
"Whilst other more affluent, genteel areas on the other side of Sheffield have escaped lightly.
"[We are being viewed] as second-class citizens who will just have to put up with it.
"That‘s pretty shocking.
"Please do not deny the new generations of Handsworth the same opportunity I had.
"Please reconsider these plans and proposals and stop this unnecessary marring of our area and its landscape."
Council needs to meet Gov targets to build new homes
Sheffield City Council said it ran a consultation from May 29 to July 11 to propose additional sites for development as part of its Local Plan - which includes building more tham 38,000 new homes - by 2039.
With plans to set higher environmental standards, reducing carbon emissions and preserving heritage areas, the council hopes to creates tens of thousands of jobs to support the economy.
The local authority said plans to build on green belt land will have to meet 'golden rules' before being approved, but warned more houses may need to be built on land previously protected as green belt due to Sheffield 'running out of brownfield sites'.
"On former green belt land, we will expect even more affordable housing to be delivered," the council said.
"Sites will also need good access to green spaces with developers expected to demonstrate an increase of 10% in biodiversity.
"In 2024, independent Government Inspectors held a series of public hearings looking into the detail of the Local Plan, which proposed continuing the council's 'Brownfield First' policy, with the vast majority of all development on brownfield sites.
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"As a result of the hearings, the council received a letter in February 2025 from the Inspectors asking for additional land to be found for a further 3,539 homes, above the 34,680 proposed, and an increase in employment land.
"The Inspectors accepted the council's rationale around the need to regenerate the urban areas and focus growth in the centre of Sheffield but also recognised that releasing some green belt land could help to meet a wider range of housing needs, including the need for affordable housing.
"The council has explored every option before considering the release of any green belt for development.
'No more available brownfield sites to allocate'
"However, it was determined that there are no more available brownfield sites left to allocate which means that in exceptional circumstances, a small number of green belt sites are being considered.
"The sites account for only 3.6% of the land currently allocated as green belt, which means that over 96% of the green belt will remain untouched and protected."
