Third time lucky for Stafford housing development plans
Plans for more than 200 new homes in Stafford have been approved by councillors – after previously being sent back twice to the developer for a redesign.
St Modwen Homes’ detailed proposals for the Fairway development were deferred in July and October after members of Stafford Borough Council’s planning committee raised concerns including gardens and affordable homes being smaller than national standard.
It was third time lucky for the developer however, when the plans for 213 homes, public open space, landscaping and associated infrastructure on the former Areva industrial site were given the green light.
A committee report said: “This application was considered by planning committee on October 7, who resolved that the application be referred back to the applicants so that all the housing shall meet the national space standards both internally and externally.
"Revised plans have subsequently been submitted which has resulted in all of the garden areas now meeting the council’s space standards for gardens set out in the Supplementary Planning Document.
“The applicant has not amended any house type plans to respond to the Nationally Described Space Standards but has provided the council with a QC’s opinion as to why the council cannot require houses and apartments to meet the Nationally Described Space Standards. Planning Committee had previously deferred consideration of the application on July 15, to allow for redesign of the site to a higher quality. A number of amendments were made.
“The further amendments have improved the quality of the scheme by ensuring that all of the garden areas now meet the council’s space standards for gardens.
“Although the application was also deferred so that all the housing shall meet the national space standards, it is clear from the Government’s Planning Practice Guidance that without evidence gathered as part of the preparation of The Plan for Stafford Borough to determine whether there is a need for additional standards in the area, and justification in The Plan for Stafford Borough for setting the Nationally Described Space Standards as a policy requirement in Stafford Borough, there is no basis to require the applicant to comply with the Nationally Described Space Standards.
“The application is therefore considered acceptable.”
