Councillors approve plans for 135 Penkridge homes after earlier application went to appeal

Developer Bloor Homes lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate because its outline application for the development on land east of the A449 had not been determined by South Staffordshire Council.

That appeal has now started, members of South Staffordshire Council’s planning committee heard at their meeting on Tuesday (October 21). Last month the committee indicated it would have granted permission for the application if it had not gone to appeal.

An application seeking full consent for the same site was also submitted by Bloor Homes. These proposals were unanimously approved by the planning committee on Tuesday.

It is one of a number of 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. Another proposal submitted by Bloor Homes, seeking permission for up to 215 homes on land off Stafford Road, was approved by the committee at another planning committee meeting last month.

Agent Mark Rose, who spoke in support of the full application at Tuesday’s meeting, said: “This application seeks to bring forward the delivery of 135 homes in the first phase of the proposed allocation to the north of Penkridge, as identified in the emerging Local Plan. The proposal to allocate the site is a reflection of its suitability for development.

“The site is well-related to Penkridge, which is a tier one settlement with a wide range of day to day services. It also lies outside of the Green Belt that covers most of the district.

“Bloor Homes and the council have worked closely together to ensure the delivery of a high-quality development within the allocation site. The result is a well-considered proposal that will realise a truly sustainable and well-planned new neighbourhood to the north of Penkridge, supported by the community and highway infrastructure required to meet the day to day needs of residents.

“This site will deliver homes across a range of sizes, types and tenures, including 40% affordable housing in line with the adopted policy. That will contribute towards meeting the area’s market and affordable housing needs, and address the acute five-year housing land supply shortfall.

“It will be accessed by two access points. The majority of the houses will be served by a fourth arm to the existing roundabout on the A449, with the remainder served by a priority T-junction further to the south.

“The development will also deliver a strategic active travel link along the A449 between the site and the village centre. That will allow residents to benefit from safe and convenient access to services within the village centre and would in due course link to the facilities delivered in the wider allocation to the north.”