Up to 39 new homes can be built on Staffordshire farm site despite traffic concerns
More than 35 new homes can be built on farmland north of Cannock – despite road safety concerns and previous development proposals being turned down in the 1960s and 1970s.
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
The land at Pear Tree Farm, Huntington, has been removed from Green Belt designation in recent years and earmarked for future housing need as part of South Staffordshire Council’s Local Plan.
Members of the council’s planning committee heard on Tuesday (April 15) that development proposals were rejected in 1964 due to concerns about subsidence risk and in 1971 because of potential impact on traffic on the A34 Stafford Road. But the land was considered a “low risk area” by the Coal Authority and the county’s highways authority has raised no objections to the latest application, a report said.
The outline application, seeking consent for up to 39 homes, was recommended for approval by planning officers ahead of Tuesday’s meeting. Further details, including the exact number of properties, are set to come forward in another application at a later date.
South Staffordshire Council received 11 objections to the application. Shawn Jowsey, who spoke against the application at Tuesday’s meeting, said: “The access on the main A34 will be an accident black spot due to the speeding vehicles and the sheer volume of traffic.
“Creating a staggered junction is stupidity with the amount of HGVs using the road. When the M6 has regular problems the traffic is horrendous, which will also create a safety hazard for cyclists, pedestrians and children going to the local school.
“The lack of provision for parking will be another issue as the grass verges are used and also the front of the houses are used to park cars on the paths. On a football day the junctions are a nightmare to get round due to parked cars, this also slows down the main road – I have seen cars reversing on to the main road due to the junction being blocked.
“Visibility will cause major issues when pulling out onto the main road. We have it now turning right out of Pear tree Close, there are a few near misses.
“Noise and light pollution will severely impact the quality of life for the residents of Pear Tree Close from construction activities, increased traffic noise and a lack of natural light due to the close proximity of the new builds which will also have an impact on privacy as the new build windows will look directly into our property which will infringe on our privacy and affect our quality of life. Everybody should be able to maintain privacy and a pleasant living environment for well-being and happiness of residents, but with the close proximity of the new builds this will be eradicated.”
Hilary Goodban, who spoke in support of the application on Tuesday, said the land had been safeguarded for residential development in the Local Plan since 2018. She added: “The council is currently falling significantly short of its five-year housing land supply requirement, with a 1.1 year supply.
“Officers have considered the proposals are acceptable in terms of highways, flood risk, drainage and ecology matters. In terms of layout and residential amenity the exact position of the houses and design will be subject to a reserved matters application, which will need to be approved by the council, and members of the public will have the opportunity to comment on this application.
“An important benefit of the application is provision of at least 40% of homes as affordable housing to meet local need. These affordable homes will be a mix of social rent and shared ownership to get people on the housing ladder.
“There will be provision of two new play areas for use by all local families. Adjacent footpaths north and south will create new walkways through the site, which will provide walking routes for local residents away from roads.”
The committee voted to approve the application, with 10 members in favour. But five members voted against the plans, after raising concerns about traffic, the potential density of development and loss of existing traditional barns on the site.
