Express & Star

Rugby club land plans set to go ahead

A new 64 room assisted living site is set to built on the former Stafford Rugby Club site.

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Stafford Borough Council’s planning committee have been recommended to give the go ahead to plans from Your Life Management Services, which will see the development built on a playing field at the Newport Road base for the club.

The building is set to be three storeys and planning officers have told the committee to give plans the go ahead despite concerns over parking raised by councillor Carolyn Towbridge.

The planning committee will meet on Wednesday to make a final decision.

Councillor Towbridge said: "64 apartments of 70 years plus may mean that not many residence have cars but I am sure they will have many visitors, this is going to have a knock on effect to the local area that already has huge parking issues.”

John Dolman, planning officer with Stafford Borough Council, explained that parking concerns had been raised between the applicants and the Highway Authority, with a conclusion reached.

He said : "The proposal constitutes Extra Care Accommodation aimed at providing independent living for the frail elderly, with day to day care in the form of assistance and care tailored to the owners’ individual needs.

"The development of this site for assisted living and extra care retirement living units is considered to constitute sustainable developed.

"A total of 52 car parking spaces would be provided.

"The level of car parking provision has been the subject of discussion between the applicants and the Highway Authority.

"When revised plans were submitted for elevational and internal layout alterations to the building, the number of spaces was reduced to 38.

"The Highway Authority sought further justification for this reduction, not least due to the existence of conflicting information in the submitted application documents suggesting that between 42 and 47 spaces were required.

"In light of the Highway Authority concerns and concerns expressed in other representations the deleted spaces were subsequently restored."

Stafford Rugby Club, based nearby in Castlefields, will no longer need the land after securing planning permission to relocate to Blackberry Lane.

Sport England also raised initial concerns about the loss of the playing fields but did not lodge a formal objection because the rugby club has secured a new site.