Campaigners fighting plans to build more than 5,000 homes on land in Staffordshire want to know why a decision on the scheme is taking so long.

The Curborough Consortium put in an application seeking permission for a development in Curborough, Lichfield, in April, but it is still to go to Lichfield District Council planning committee. Richard Holloway, chairman of the Fradley Against Curborough Town (FACT) action group, said he understood the consortium would submit revised plans.

He said that these were due in August, but letting developers take so long to tweak plans was unfair.

“My understanding is that the council had come to an agreement with the consortium for an extension, a period of time in which the developers can revise their proposals and tweak things that have been pointed out as areas of concern,” he said.

“My point is that surely there should be a time frame within which this has to take place. This could go on and on, until at some point the council sees that everything has been mitigated and it becomes a non-contested application.”

Sean Coghlan, council development executive, said that it was the largest application the council had ever received.

“With a plan that includes more than 5,000 homes, three schools, restaurants, pubs, a community centre, shops and much more, the issues that need to be analysed are incredibly complex and the work involved is very detailed.

“Because of its unique nature, there is no usual timeframe for an application of this size. Given its complexity, we are working through the application at a good pace and are currently analysing the hundreds of responses we have received from local stakeholders.”

As work was ongoing a committee date was yet to be set, but the council website would be updated as soon as a date was confirmed.