Rejection looms for multi-mullion pound Stafford development plans creating pub, hotel and nursery
Controversial plans for a multi-million pound Stafford development including a pub and hotel are set to be thrown out.
Stafford Borough Council's planning chiefs look to refuse the proposal which includes plans for a new pub, 60-room hotel, nursery, community room, nursing home, offices and industrial units.
A number of concerns have been raised about the application, submitted by family-run Strawson Holdings, including traffic and parking.
Stafford Borough Council, the Highway Authority, Highways England and Creswell Parish Council have all objected to the plans.
The borough council says it would lead to a 'disproportionate amount of housing and employment development' taking place on land which has not been identified as a priority.
It argues approving this proposal would 'significantly undermine' the plan for Stafford Borough, which outlines where large-scale developments should be taking place to best benefit the town.
The Highway Authority has objected to the plans saying the application has not taken into account the location of the site next to the M6 and the 'likely traffic generated including heavy goods vehicles'.
Highways England, which is separate to the Highway Authority, said the plans should be refused for at least three months to allow the applicant to submit more information about traffic.
Creswell Parish Council raised concerns about noise and light disturbance, anti-social behaviour and overnight parking.
Further concerns were raised about parking generally with only 280 spaces proposed in the plans despite a recommended requirement of more than 400.
A report prepared for Stafford Borough Council's special planning committee a week today recommends the plans for refusal.
The report adds: "Sufficient information has not been submitted to show that the prospective occupiers of the nursery, hotel and nursing home would not be detrimentally affected by noise from the M6 motorway due to its future widening under the Smart Motorway project.
"Sufficient information has not been submitted to show that a feasible sustainable drainage system can be constructed within the proposed layout nor how the quality of water runoff from the site would be controlled given the potential for water pollution and in particular for that to affect the Doxey Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest. The proposals would consequently not represent a sustainable development."
Strawson Holdings was unavailable for comment.
