Stafford Council’s Local Plan process questioned again by community leaders
A “massive tide of opportunist developers” has become a problem in Stafford Borough, a community leader has said, as plans for hundreds of new homes come forward.
Eccleshall is facing 10 potential housing development sites, which residents fear could almost double the size of the town, while more than 500 new homes are earmarked for land on western edge of Stone.
The latest version of Stafford Borough’s Local Plan, a legal document which sets out a blueprint for future development of new homes and workspace across the borough, was previously expected to be formally adopted last year under a previous timetable set by the authority’s former Conservative administration.
But earlier this year it was announced that a fresh process would begin to prepare a new Local Plan, following major changes including a massive increase in new housing targets from the Government.
In recent months the council’s current administration, a mix of Labour, Green Party and Stafford Borough Independents, has come under fire from the Conservative group which is now in opposition for delays in bringing forward the latest Local Plan.
At the full council meeting on July 22, the authority’s former cabinet member for Economic Development and Planning Frances Beatty once again questioned the current administration’s actions.
Councillor Beatty said: “In the last two years, Conservatives have brought motions to this council and asked questions of both the cabinet member and the leader around the Local Plan on no less than six occasions (including) about the importance of maintaining our residential boundaries in order to restrict housing growth to areas identified by the authority’s long-term strategies.
"This is now dead in the water, with developers indiscriminately putting forward any land that they own.
“We need to know where in the borough, where in our villages, the administration is planning to sanction the preposterous and eye-watering annual house building regime imposed by central government.
"The borough council is working on a piecemeal basis with no adequate answers to the approaches from developers.
“How does the borough council plan to stem the tide of opportunist developers?”
Councillor Ant Reid, the current cabinet member for economic development and planning, responded: “The council has already, and continues to take, every opportunity to point out to the Government the impact of their new planning framework and mandatory targets on our borough. We are handling a situation that was not of our making.
“The adopted Plan for Stafford Borough 2011-2031 will continue to be used for making decisions on planning applications. Although settlement boundaries now have less weight in housing development as a result of recent planning decisions, the council will now respond to approaches from developers putting forward land, to ensure the adopted plan continues to be delivered alongside the necessary infrastructure, services and facilities, to our local communities.”
In response to Councillor Beatty’s claim it has taken 18 months so far to answer a question on the new Local Plan timeline, Councillor Reid said she had “repeatedly been shown the timeline”.
He added that half the former Conservative administration front bench had argued against aspects of the Local Plan that was being worked on, but was later shelved by the current administration following a shake-up of the national planning system.
Councillor Reid said: “Progressing the old plan was not practical.
“Adequate budget is now in place to draw up a proper plan and subsequently put forward a proposed options consultation with our communities.
“We are giving our communities another chance to have a say on their future, while Councillor Beatty has been pushing to continue her flawed plan.
"Our process brings the Local Plan back to local communities to have a say.
“We need to have robust evidence to present realistic options and progress at a pace that meets the legal requirements.
"Until then, I will continue to ensure our development management team have the necessary resources to be able to handle applications, and ensure they continue to have access to the appropriate evidence to enforce policies on applications.
“Anyone promoting a large-scale residential application at this stage is urged to engage in the pre-application process with our officers.
"This is a proven method for ensuring good quality planning applications come forward that benefit our current and future communities.”
