Plans to build new drive through restaurant and electric vehicle charging hub in Staffordshire
Plans to build a new drive through restaurant and electric vehicle charging hub on land north of Stone have returned to Stafford Borough Council.
The authority refused permission for the development, earmarked for land off the A34 opposite the George and Dragon at Meaford, saying it would have resulted in “significant urban encroachment into a continuous green space”.
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An appeal lodged against the decision was rejected last year. Planning inspector Zoe Raygen concluded that the benefits of the scheme would not be sufficient to outweigh the harm to the Green Belt.
A new planning application has now come forward from George Developments Limited. It proposes 31 electric vehicle charging bays equipped with solar panels and a substation, as well as picnic areas and a drive-through restaurant.
A design and access statement submitted as part of the latest application said: “It is considered that the proposed hub is well-suited to the site’s location and will provide a pleasant rest stop for the area. There will be access to the site for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.
“It benefits from good pedestrian infrastructure, is easily accessible from the surrounding cycle network, commercial properties, and local towns with access to the M6 south of the site and A51 to the north. The electric vehicle charging points will encourage more sustainable transport methods and help future-proof the area.
“The design of the proposal has considered the views from the Meaford Conservation Area and focuses on enhancing the natural appearance of the site, incorporating additional improvements to ecology and biodiversity. The proposed development is a well-considered design that is appropriate to the locality, and the site itself is classified as grey belt.”
