Families' joy as homes plan scrapped

Happy residents in a Staffordshire village have welcomed news that proposals to build 29 homes on a small strip of land have been finally withdrawn.

Mark Hough, of Huntington Residents' Association, said he hoped "commonsense had prevailed" and that another application for the site would not be submitted. The application was submitted to South Staffordshire District Council for 29 homes on land off Cocksparrow Lane between the terrace homes on Stafford Road and Littleton Industrial Estate.

Mr Hough, who lives on Stafford Road, said he received a letter from the council saying the application had been withdrawn by the developers Miller Homes.

He said: "It's welcome news. The application has been withdrawn for the time being and it may be resubmitted at a later date in a different format. But for the moment we are quite happy.

"Apparently it may be resubmitted at a later date but fingers crossed commonsense has prevailed and continue to do so."

Residents' concerns about the proposals included issues of privacy, with the new houses looking into the back of the terrace homes on Stafford Road, over-development of the land, who owns the boundaries and worries about the effect.

When they turned out in force at Huntington Parish Council meeting to voice their objections to the plans they accused the developer of being too greedy.

As a result of their concerns, Huntington Residents' Association was formed to give residents their voice and to keep them notified.

Steve Winterflood, deputy chief executive of South Staffordshire Council, said: "We can confirm that the plans have been withdrawn."

Anyone interested in getting involved should call Mr Hough on 07730 616751.