Staffordshire residents meet to discuss major planning applications for hundreds of homes

Residents have met to discuss three major planning applications affecting Stone. The meeting, held at Walton Community Centre last week, was arranged by Councillor Jon Powell and gave residents a chance to discuss the planning applications for sites at Marlborough Road and Eccleshall Road.

If all three applications are approved, they could mean 870 additional homes being built in the area. Residents at the meeting say the developments will add to existing issues such as flooding, drainage and the pressure on existing amenities.

The three applications include Richborough Estates’ proposal for up to 240 homes off Eccleshall Road and Bloor Homes’ application for up to 510 homes, specialist housing for older people and a first school on land north of Eccleshall Road. Taylor Wimpey submitted an outline planning application for up to 120 homes on land off Marlborough Road.

Councillor Powell said the three applications along with the completed development at Udall Grange would be the equivalent to the number of houses in Barlaston. He also told residents that he would call the applications into the planning committee but highlighted recent changes in national planning rules.

From October 31, a new national scheme of delegation will come into force. This means that more applications will be decided by planning officers, with tighter restrictions on which cases can be called in to the planning committee.

Applications will fall into two categories: Schedule One and Schedule Two applications. Schedule One applications cover smaller types of development, while Schedule Two deals with larger or more complex applications.

For an application to go to committee, it either needs to raise an economic, social or environmental issue of significance to the local area or a significant planning matter. Additionally, both the chair of the planning committee and the head of planning need to agree.

A number of concerns were raised by residents at the meeting, including flooding from the fields and fears that the field which absorbs water will be replaced with hardstanding that will cause more run-off. Councillor Powell told residents that Severn Trent has said developments should avoid increasing the amount of rain and surface water in sewers, as that would increase the flood risk.

Speaking after the meeting, resident Joan Goodwin said: “I know we need more houses, but I think this area has done its fair share. There are already issues and more houses are just going to make the situation worse.”

Councillor Jon Powell added: “For me, the biggest strength of any community is the fact that we’re a community and we have unity. When we’re bound together it does create strength. I will be doing everything I can do. I will have my five minutes there and I will be making a very strong argument.”