New home approved in South Staffordshire countryside despite objections

A new home can be built in the South Staffordshire countryside despite concerns it could extend a village boundary and lead to further development in the area.

South Staffordshire District Council received 20 objections to the plans for the single-storey four-bedroom property, earmarked for Magazine Field, Magazine Lane, in Wheaton Aston, including one from the parish council.

Objectors said the development was outside the current village boundary and the design, which was not in keeping with other properties in the area, would “dominate the view from the canal towpath”. There were also concerns about highway safety with Magazine Lane, off Long Street, described as a “public footpath” and “not wide enough for pedestrians to use it safely with traffic and no passing places.”

But there was also a comment of support submitted to the council. A report to the council’s planning committee stated the supporter said: “I feel the proposed building will be entirely appropriate for its location and its eco design and plans for rainwater collection and solar power is a wonderful model which may inspire others to pursue similar ideas.”

The application was recommended by planning officers for approval ahead of this month’s planning committee meeting. The committee report said: “As the council cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, the tilted balance in favour of development is engaged unless any adverse impacts of granting permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) taken as a whole.

“The low-lying nature and position of the proposal within the site, coupled with proposed landscaping, would ensure that there would be no harm to the integrity of the adjacent canal or the significance of the canal conservation area as the harm would constitute ‘less than substantial’ and is considered at the lower level . In addition there are no undue concerns arising in relation to highway safety, parking, ecology, biodiversity, arboriculture or residential amenity.

“It is therefore concluded that there are no sufficiently strong reasons, arising from the impacts of the development, to warrant refusal of the application and the proposal would contribute an additional dwelling to the council’s housing land supply which would be a benefit of the development.”

Andrew Jones, who spoke against the application at the planning committee meeting, said: “The proposal is inappropriate for its location and harmful to the character of that part of the village. This modern, intrusive structure sits beside the canal conservation area that is rural.

“There is no justification for expanding into sensitive rural land whilst allocated sites remain available. This proposal is a Trojan horse – it would set a precedent for future canalside development (and) approval here would make resisting future applications far more difficult and enable incremental and large-scale expansion outside of the village envelope.”

Josh Foster, speaking in support of the application, said: “The council is currently unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply and as a result there would be a presumption in favour of sustainable development. Taken into account the single-storey nature of the development and design proposed it is considered there would be unlikely to be any adverse harm on the character of the landscape.

“In addition, whilst it sits outside the village boundary, it is not in a wholly isolated location and there are services and facilities within walking distance. It represents a modest development with limited visual impact; the design has included a mirrored façade to reflect the natural vegetation to minimise the visual impact.”

Four councillors voted against approving the application at the meeting. But 10 voted in favour, meaning the proposals were passed.