Bid to build two homes on land on edge of rural Staffordshire village rejected

Members of the council’s planning committee voted to reject the application.

A bid to build two homes on land on the edge of a rural Stafford Borough village has been rejected.

Planning officers at Stafford Borough Council recommended permission in principle be refused for the development on land off Lodge Lane, Woodseaves.

Members of the council’s planning committee voted to reject the application at their meeting on Wednesday (October 28) after hearing from a local resident and ward councillor Scott Spencer about road safety concerns on Lodge Lane.

Councillor Spencer called in the application for consideration by the planning committee, alongside Councillor Mark Winnington, who highlighted the massing of proposed homes in Woodseaves and negative impact on “creaking infrastructure”.

A report to the planning committee said: “The proposal constitutes habitats development. As such, Permission in Principle cannot lawfully be granted.

“Officers have concluded that sufficient information is not available to rule out the likelihood of significant effects on the Midland Meres and Mosses Phase II Ramsar site (wetland of international importance) and that any necessary mitigation measures cannot be secured through a Permission in Principle consent, as planning conditions and planning obligations cannot be attached at this stage.”

The report added the parcel of land was located outside the defined settlement boundary of Woodseaves.

Councillor Ann Edgeller said: “It looks a very dangerous lane. With it being a greenfield site, I think we have got every reason to refuse it.”

You can find out more about planning applications and planned roadworks where you live by visiting publicnoticeportal.uk/express-and-star

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