Planners accused over homes

Council bosses in South Staffordshire have been accused of blocking affordable housing as a two week inquiry into controversial plans came to an end.

Builders battling for the go-ahead for 560 homes at Campions Wood in Cheslyn Hay have put their views to a Government inspector who must now prepare a report.

Mr Ian Dove QC, representing land owner Dr Nigel Roberts, who wants to sell the 27.5 hectare quarry site, accused South Staffordshire council of relying upon "absolute tosh" when it refused permission last year.

He said: "There is a need for 351 affordable units. That is significantly less than the 834 people who are currently on the housing waiting list for Cheslyn Hay and Great Wyrley." He said the council had allowed for only 12 affordable homes to be built in the district in the last year.

But Mr Anthony Crean QC, representing the council at yesterday's inquiry, said: "The appellant has no intention of building any affordable housing unless and until he is given permission to build a much larger number of open market housing.

"In a circular fashion that then re-engages the question of whether there is any policy justification for the grant of consent for open market housing.

"To grant consent on the appeal site would absorb three years' (housing) supply for the entire district on a single site.

"The council would be prevented from allowing any other land to come forward in the rural hinterland to the prejudice of central objectives of national housing policy."

Wolverhampton City Council has also objected to the plans because it fears hundreds of the city's wealthiest residents would leave for the suburbs of South Staffordshire.

Mr Martin Carter, barrister for the city council, said experts predicted 15 per cent of the homes would be taken up by people from the Black Country.

Planning inspector Daphne Mair must now report back to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears.