Councillors vote for approval of Penkridge homes plan - but final decision to be taken by planning inspector
Councillors have voted to approve proposals for 135 new homes north of Penkridge – but the final decision will be taken by a planning inspector.
Developer Bloor Homes lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate because its application for the development on land east of the A449 had not been determined by South Staffordshire Council.
The appeal is due to take place in October, when the application will be considered by the Planning Inspectorate. Members of the council’s planning committee still considered the application at their meeting on Tuesday (September 2) however, and were asked to indicate whether or not they would have approved the application if they had been the decision makers.
A report to the committee said: “On the basis of the merits of the case, it is considered that if the application was before the planning committee for determination, a formal recommendation would have been made to approve the application, subject to the conditions and legal agreements. Members are now invited to consider if they agree with this recommendation.”
The committee voted unanimously for approval of the application. Comments made at Tuesday’s meeting will be used as part of the council’s appeal submissions.
The application area is currently two agricultural fields with a combined area of 7.3 hectares (18 acres) It is one of four applications being considered for a wider development of up to 1,100 homes, older people’s housing, a new school and community centre on a 69.5 hectare (171.8 acre) area to the north of Penkridge.
Councillor Helen Adams said: “I am a member of Penkridge Parish Council and we have met with the developers quite a number of times over the last two years. The planners have worked hard and we’ve made various suggestions.
“What we were concerned with was the infrastructure, but I believe that those conditions and Section 106 requirements have been met. I think on the whole we still need housing and we are quite happy with the proposal.”
Ward councillor Sam Harper-Willis said: “The Government has a condition that councils must meet a five-year land supply. If you don’t meet that land supply then pretty much every housing application is tilted in the balance and you must approve.
“If you don’t approve then it will probably go to appeal, cost your council lots of money and get overturned anyway – that’s the situation we are in currently. This site has been located in two Local Plans since I’ve been a councillor and so it’s been allocated, and is very much weighted in favour of approval.
“It’s gone to appeal so will go through the appeals process. Today is a chance to say what we would like to improve about the site, but at the end of the day the decision is outside of our hands.”
