North Area Action

The North Action Area is the largest in Sheffield covering almost half the city to the north and west where it has boundaries with Derbyshire, Barnsley and Rotherham. The area covers the full electoral wards of West Ecclesfield and Stocksbridge and Upper Don and the larger part of East Ecclesfield and Stannington. In addition the area contains the three Parish councils of Ecclesfield, Bradfield and Stocksbridge the later being termed as a town council. The area is predominantly rural and incorporates large swathes of the Peak District National Park to the west with open moorland, forests and reservoirs. The area also contains the more urban centres of Stocksbridge and Chapeltown and High Green

 

The Chapeltown, High Green area lies approximately seven miles due north of the city centre and borders on the open countryside.  Comprising of four distinctive communities, High Green, Chapeltown, Ecclesfield and Grenoside, it is an area of mixed farmland and private housing with some social housing.  There is a sizeable shopping centre at Chapeltown.  This part of the area is largely affluent with few health and social related problems, however there is an acknowledged area of deprivation in High Green.

 

Stocksbridge, with neighbouring Deepcar and Bolsterstone, lies due west of the Chapeltown area.  The area has grown from its origins around industrial development in the valley bottom to include newer housing estates located on the hillsides.  Decline in the steel industry has had an effect and led to parts of the area experiencing multiple deprivation.

 

The rural area has a recognised high value landscape incorporating large swathes of the Peak National Park with open moorland, mixed forest and a number of reservoirs.  Areas of agricultural land and a number of isolated villages are close by.  The villages are traditional focal points for the farming community, however there is an increasing trend for the settlement of commuters leading to new housing development.  The area also has an ageing population.  An effect of the new housing developments is the reduction in affordable housing for local people.