More than 300 new homes on the way for Stafford

The large site is earmarked to potentially provide up to 2,000 houses, two primary schools and extra care retirement accommodation.

The land, off Junction 14 of the M6 motorway, is part of the Northern Urban Extension to Stafford which has seen an area of 432 acres allocated for the project.

Worcester-based builder Maximus has now applied for outline planning permission to build the first 325 houses on 30 acres off Sandon Road.

Company managing director Jon Hickton said: "The mixed-use site has been identified in Stafford Borough Council's emerging plan to help meet the housing and employment needs of the area, and further benefit the wider area of Stafford."

Due to the scale of the wider scheme, building work will be phased over 15 years with infrastructure put up at various stages to support the growth of what will become a new neighbourhood.

The developer's outline planning application proposes the retention of many of the existing hedgerows and vegetation surrounding the site. It may also include an equipped play area and substantial area of public open space.

A new priority junction is being considered to improve access on to Sandon Road alongside an upgraded footpath on Sandon Road which could include a cycleway.

Mr Hickton said: "We have been consulting widely since 2013 with the aim of ensuring that our proposals are delivered in a comprehensive and sustainable manner."

Maximus is a privately-owned property development and investment group launched in 2001 which has experienced rapid growth and success over the past 14 years.

Notable developments include Topaz, the 44,700 sq ft office park near Junction 1 of the M42 at Bromsgrove, the Quartz Point business park near Junction 6 of the M42 at Solihull, and the 40,000 sq ft speculative office scheme Wildwood Triangle, off Junctions 6 and 7 at Worcester.

The Plan for Stafford borough, which was adopted last year, identifies a need for 7,200 new homes within the town by 2031.

The Plan envisages the creation of new communities with supporting health centres, schools and shops at certain key locations.

The Northern Urban Extension extends from the M6 at the western end of the site, across Marston Lane and Stafford Common in the middle, to Beacon Barracks at MOD Stafford at the eastern end.

Stafford Borough Council spokesman Will Conaghan said: "I can confirm we have received a planning application from Maximus and it will now go through all the checks necessary to validate it."