Homes blow after ruling

More families could be left waiting for a council house after the failure to get planning permission for houses on land at Cannock Stadium.

Cannock Chase Council had pledged to inject £1.2 million from the proceeds of selling the stadium land into the re-development of former coal board homes on Elizabeth Road in Chadsmoor.

The cash was guaranteed through a planning deal but has now fallen through because of the Government's decision to throw out the plans for the stadium.

The cash was to be paid to Waterloo Housing Association, which is developing Elizabeth Road in partnership with the council, in exchange for more social rented housing on the site.

These homes would be rented out to families on the council's housing list. Without this money it is thought around 20 homes will not be built meaning more families will have to wait for a home.

Council leader Councillor Neil Stanley said: "This is another dire consequence for the people of Cannock Chase because of the Government's decision not to give approval to build housing on the stadium land.

The council has already re-housed more than a dozen residents whose home will be demolished and re-built.

Ian Tenant, the council's head of housing said: "We will be discussing the implications with Waterloo Housing but there will still be an Elizabeth Road re-development programme."

No-one from Waterloo Housing was available for comment today.