Plans for up to 420 new homes north of Stafford backed by councillors
Councillors have voted in favour of plans for up to 420 new homes north of Stafford.
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Homes England’s application for land off Sandon Road, which includes the former MOD 4 Site, was deferred by Stafford Borough Council’s planning committee last month so that more information could be sought about highways issues and biodiversity.
The public body sought outline consent for residential development and access to the site from Beaconside and Sandon Road. A more detailed application covering details such as housing type, design and layout is set to come forward at a later stage.
Outline plans for up to 120 homes were approved in 2017. And the site is surrounded on three sides by agricultural land already earmarked for up to 2,000 new homes and facilities including schools, known as a Strategic Development Location (SDL).
Objectors have raised concerns about loss of green space, insufficient local facilities, increased highway danger due to an increase in traffic and safety of the proposed access off Sandon Road however. Hopton and Coton Parish Council has said it would be risky for the proposed development to rely upon facilities from another site which has no clear timeline for completion – and the site would be better used as a nature reserve.
Resident Ian Roscoe said: “The proposed development is reliant on facilities being provided by neighbouring development as part of the wider SDL , including connectivity to adjoining sites’ facilities. At this stage there is no detailed proposal to develop the neighbouring site and there are reservations over delivery coming forward in a timescale suitable to provide the much-needed facilities, including shops, schools and employment.
“There would be no local facilities or services within a 10-minute walk for an unknown period of time.The facilities which are five minutes by bicycle are not yet built.”
Laura Tilston, speaking in support of the application at last month’s meeting, said: “We are tasked with accelerating the pace of housebuilding across the country and seeking to deliver high-quality homes. We are confident the scheme meets with policy requirements of the council and this application deals with the general principle of how this site would be developed.”
On Wednesday (April 23) the application returned to the committee with further information requested by councillors. A report to the committee said: “The application has not been amended, however the applicant has provided a transport clarification note and a BNG (biodiversity net gain) report addendum.
“The application documents identify two access points – a priority-controlled junction on Sandon Road and a four-arm roundabout on Beaconside – with no vehicular connectivity between the two within the application site. The recommendation conditions specify that no more than 120 dwellings could take access from the proposed Sandon Road junction.
“The number of vehicle trips generated by 420 dwellings in each peak hour has been calculated using trip rates requested by, and agreed with, the local highway authority. The transport assessment submitted in support of the application made an assumption that 350 dwellings would use the Beaconside access and 70 would use the Sandon Road access.
“The transport assessment sets out detailing modelling with confirms that the proposed Sandon Road junction would operate within acceptable capacity thresholds. The Beaconside roundabout would operate within capacity and improve congestion issues on Tollgate Drive.”
Councillor Scott Spencer continued to raise concerns about biodiversity net gain however, as well as future vehicle movements. Committee chair Councillor Brendan McKeown voted against the application due to its outline nature, likening it to giving approval for a front door without knowing what the rest of the house will look like.
Councillor Andy McNaughton said: “It’s a brownfield site and we always want to use them up first before we use any virgin ground. I understand why people object but it is a matter of housing need – we have a housing crisis at the moment and because of that we need to alleviate that housing crisis.”
Councillor Peter Jones said: “There is a lot of talk about developments going on at the moment. They happen over years and the development being considered could take 10 years.”
Councillor Bryan Cross said: “I had concerns about flooding. But the list of conditions more or less covers everything.”
