Residents express fears for building on green belt

More than 500 people have issued formal responses to Cannock Chase District Council’s latest ‘local plan’, which was published earlier in the year.

The policy document outlined land for about 3,000 homes to be built between now and 2028, while swathes of green belt land were identified to accommodate new properties beyond that.

The responses have now been collated and will be discussed by cabinet bosses on Thursday.

A report said: “Several responses were submitted objecting to the inclusion of green belt and AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) options in the list of sites and options being appraised and stating that these areas should be protected.

“There were concerns about the number of sites which had been included in the plan. Concerns were raised about the potential for merging communities.”

Council leader George Adamson has admitted the masterplan will ‘change the face’ of the district in the coming years and stressed how important it was residents submitted their views.

The district council has earmarked several sites to accommodate housing in the next decade. The largest plots include the former Parker Hannifin site at Walkmill Lane, Cannock, which could take 93 homes, land opposite Hednesford Town FC, which could hold 90 properties, and the former Aelfgar School site in Rugeley where 85 have been earmarked.

While the authority could adopt a different strategy targeting land where planning permission has already been granted.

That would see plots at Norton Hall Lane, Norton Canes, earmarked for 450 homes and the site at Green Heath Road in Hednesford, where 414 are already being built, help meet housing needs.

Between now and 2028 Cannock Chase may also have to provide a further 1,000 properties to cater for a shortfall in Birmingham.