'Codsall is full without this additional proposal' - Fears over plans for 550 homes for village near Wolverhampton

• Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with the Express & Star’s free newsletter

But residents claim public utilities and infrastructure were already overwhelmed and inadequate to cope with such a large housing development.

Concerns include timely access to health services, parking and congestion outside to Codsall Railway Station in Station Road plus flooding after heavy rainfall.

Heath House Lane resident Darrell Miller, aged 50, said: "Codsall is full without this additional proposal for 550 new homes. The village is already overwhelmed with traffic and there are issues with getting appointments for doctors and dentists. Every single service in the community is crammed.

"Train commuters leave their cars in Station Road which is a narrow lane and it's traffic chaos there and in Oaken Lane at busy periods.

"There is also a bad history of flooding where these new properties would go.

"I feel the plans have been lodged with insufficient time being given to people find out about them in the first place, and then to digest them before commenting on whether they are for or against the application. We need more time."

The plan's design and access statement states: "The site at Codsall South provides an important opportunity to deliver new homes and community facilities in a sustainable location.

"Codsall is identified as a main service village within the South Staffordshire settlement hierarchy, making it one of the most suitable locations for growth. The village already benefits from a wide range of services, schools, healthcare, shops and two railway stations, and the site sits within easy walking and cycling distance of these facilities.

"The council cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, with delivery at only 1.17 years. This is a critical shortfall. Under National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), this triggers the presumption in favour of sustainable development.

"In practice, this means planning permission should be granted unless there are clear reasons for refusal, or the harm would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits. The proposed development directly addresses this shortfall by delivering up to 550 homes, including 50 per cent affordable housing, alongside an 80-unit extra care facility and a community shop. These facilities will not only provide much-needed homes but also enhance local services and support Codsall’s long-term sustainability.

"Although the site lies within the green belt, the accompanying planning statement and grey belt assessment confirms it falls within the “grey belt” – land that makes only a limited contribution to green belt purposes. These reports also demonstrates that very special circumstances exist. These include the scale of unmet housing need; the out-of-date Local Plan; the recognition in the emerging Local Plan that Codsall is suitable for growth; the high proportion of affordable and specialist housing; and the significant community and environmental benefits such as biodiversity net gain, extensive landscaping, and new open space.

"Taken together, these benefits clearly outweigh the limited and localised harm."

The application reference 25/00874/OUTM can be viewed online. Comments can also be made in writing to Planning, Council Offices, Wolverhampton Road, Codsall, before November 29.

• You can find out more about planning applications and planned roadworks where you live. Visit publicnoticeportal.uk.