'A compelling opportunity to deliver aspirational homes' - £150m plan for 430 new homes in Staffordshire
Housebuilder Cameron Homes has submitted outline plans for a £150m scheme to build 430 homes and community facilities in Chasetown, Burntwood.
The grey belt scheme aims to revitalise the former mining village and contribute to the district’s housing needs.
A planning application seeking permission for the 20 Ha development, off Highfields Road, has been submitted to Lichfield District Council.
The expansive site is currently inaccessible to the public and considered ‘grey belt’ under the Government’s new national planning policy.
Cameron Homes proposes opening up the land for new on-site public open space, children’s play areas, wildlife habitats and biodiversity enhancements. Highways improvements and new pedestrian and cycle links are also planned to create family-focused recreation routes and sustainable drainage features.
12.6 Ha of the 20 Ha site is proposed for energy-efficient new homes, 80 per cent of which would be two-storey houses. The remainder would be 2.5 storeys to add variety to street scenes.
185 of the 430 plots would be for affordable housing - 15 per cent above the council’s current policy requirement.
Cameron Homes said pre-application discussions and a public consultation process have helped to shape the planning application.
Pegasus has undertaken the masterplanning and planning consultancy services for the Staffordshire based housebuilder, which has its head office based in the same village as the development site.
Having been based in Chasetown for more than 30 years, Cameron Homes, Tara Group and the Noel Sweeney Foundation are already hugely invested in the community and the wider Burntwood parish, the company said.
Kate Tait, group strategic land and planning director for Cameron Homes, said of the scheme: “This grey belt site is currently inaccessible, unutilised land in a highly sustainable location, where bus routes, schooling and high street amenities are within easy walking distance.
“Chasetown has a long history as a mining village, but with the last mine here closing down in 1959, this large site presents a compelling opportunity to deliver energy-efficient aspirational homes, while also providing new amenity space, Highways improvements and extensive green infrastructure. Our £150m plans would create hundreds of construction jobs, revitalise the area and deliver benefits for the whole community.
“Lichfield District Council has a significant Housing Land Supply shortfall, with Burntwood needing to accommodate 1,350 new dwellings by 2029. Strategic proposals like this are required to meet the local demand for new housing. We will continue to work alongside officers, councillors and consultees while this planning application is considered.”
The business is currently delivering more than 200 homes across 11 live developments and has a pipeline of future sites expected to deliver around 1,000 new homes.
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