Housing plan under fire
Housing plan under fire
A HOUSING plan for a Moorlands village has come under fire from community leaders and residents. Staffordshire Moorlands District Council has received an “outline application with means of access for residential development of up to 14 dwellings” on land at Caverswall Old Road in Forsbrook.
In the Design & Access Statement, which accompanies the planning application, a representative of Sammons Architectural said on behalf of the applicant, Mr Walker: “The application site relates well to the existing built up area and would represent a logical extension to the settlement boundary and no significant demonstrable harm would arise in respect of the proposal in relation to the character and appearance of the area, highway safety or residential amenity.
“In addition, the economic and social benefits which the development would bring in terms of its contribution to housing land supply, potential homes for local people, new homes bonus, jobs in construction and the construction industry supply chain and spending in local shops would also attract considerable weight in favour of the proposal.”
However, members of the Forsbrook Parish Council and more than 15 residents have submitted ‘strong’ objections over the plans relating to a number of issues.
Around 30 residents attended a special meeting of the parish council which took place on Monday evening and, even though it had just the one planning application agenda item, lasted two hours.
Parish Clerk Dawn Plant confirmed that the council decided to recommend refusal of the development.
She said: “Councillors voted against the development on a number of grounds including environmental issues such as there being a Badger set on the site, owls and bats, as well as there being thick bramble on the site which supports the eco system.
“Concerns were also raised that the width of both roads are already inadequate for the current flow of traffic; and that the site joins a Greenbelt site.
“Other concerns included about drainage and sewage at the site, and that the site had once been used to tip building materials.
“Councillors also stated that they support the two businesses there, Heath House Farm and Foxfield. They are keen to see them grow and don’t want to overload the lane with traffic from such a development.”
Mrs Plant added that Forsbrook Parish Council chairman Peter Jones abstained from the vote regarding the application as he had been contacted by the applicant.
She also added that 30 residents turned up to the Forsbrook Parish Council meeting on Monday and that most of the residents said they were also going to submit objections to the development plans.
Members of the public have until January 21 to make their views on the application known. This can be done through the SMDC website.
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