Residents object to plans for 88 new homes behind Staffordshire housing estate

Persimmon Homes is proposing the development on land to the north east of Cherrybrook Drive, between the canal and the M6.

A previous application for up to 80 homes on the site was rejected by South Staffordshire Council’s planning committee in 2018. The latest proposals are for 88 homes, with access from Kentmere Close.

A planning statement submitted as part of the latest application said: “The (previous) application was refused at committee for a single reason, related to prematurity of the release of ‘Safeguarded Land’. The site is promoted now, as the prematurity issue is no longer material.

“The site is subject of a long-standing allocation as ‘Safeguarded Land’ (in) the South Staffordshire Local Plan 1996. The proposal follows many of the designated layout design principles, which were established previously, and deemed to be acceptable by officers and statutory consultees.

“The application site represents a logical and natural extension to the existing built up area of Penkridge; there is existing development and urban form on three sides of the site. The scheme has been sensitively designed to minimise any adverse impacts.

“There are identified economic, social and environmental benefits arising from the scheme; the provision of both market and affordable housing, where there is an identified shortfall, carry very significant weight. In terms of harm, there is some encroachment into the open countryside which would cause very limited landscape and visual impact weighing against the application proposals.”

But South Staffordshire Council has received more than 70 objections to the application. And Penkridge North and Acton Trussell ward councillor Andrew Adams said estate residents were “fuming at proposals”.

He added: “The proposed houses will border the M6 and be less than 200m from it. Current figures show that 120,000 vehicles pass this area each and every day – toxic fumes and noise pollution for potential residents will be a significant danger to their health, both mental and physical.

“The residents have concerns that the private element of this development will not sell to private residents because of the noise and pollution, leaving the developer selling to housing associations and creating a significant number of social housing in one specific area. It is also a significant concern to residents that the proposed entrance to this development comes off the Cannock Road, (which) has over 6,500 vehicle movements each day and is often gridlocked by school traffic at the nearby Wolgarston School, with many parents parking or turning round on the estate roads, making access and egress from the estate impossible at times.

“The residents have formed a protest group and almost everyone on the estate is against this proposed development. The council decision is still pending on this proposed development and the residents have not given up the fight against this proposed development.”

Tom Wellings, who has objected to the plans, said: “The existing infrastructure in the area is insufficient to support the estimated increase in residents. Local doctors are already struggling to meet the demand of the current population, and schools have major backlogs in applications.

“Parents are advised to register their children years in advance, indicating a severe lack of capacity that will be further strained by this development. The proposed development will place an unsustainable burden on local healthcare services, educational institutions, and other public services, leading to a decline in the quality of life for all residents.”

Another objector, Emily Jones, said: “I believe this development would have significant adverse effects on the locaI environment, infrastructure and community. This proposal detracts from the benefits that attract most people to the area.

“Each of the 88 households would potentially have one or two cars, excluding visitors. This is a real worry to the people of Cherrybrook as, on average, an additional 176 new vehicles would need to use the single access point on to Cherrybrook, which as someone who lives on the estate knows first hand, can be difficult to enter and exit.

“The land off Cherrybrook currently provides an important habitat for a range of local wildlife. The proposed development threatens to displace these species, leading to a significant loss in biodiversity.”