District housing may spill over border
Some of the new housing needed in Rugeley over the next 17 years could be built over the border in Lichfield district.
Some of the new housing needed in Rugeley over the next 17 years could be built over the border in Lichfield district.
Cannock Chase Council is still working on its local development framework covering the growth of the district to 2026.
The council needs to find space for 5,800 new homes with 26 per cent of that earmarked for the Rugeley and Brereton areas. Council leader Neil Stanley said district boundaries limit where new housing could be put in Rugeley, with the only real option to infill within the existing urban area.
Head of planning and regeneration Bob Phillips said the council is working with Lichfield District Council on the idea of some houses going over the border.
Lichfield is proposing that up to 1,000 of the new homes it needs to find by 2026 could go on the boundary with Rugeley.
"These would be largely serviced by the infrastructure in Rugeley," he explained.
The bulk of new housing, 68 per cent, would be built in Cannock, Hednesford and Heath Hayes with six per cent in Norton Canes.
Tomorrow, the council's cabinet will be recommended to approve the latest framework strategy options report to go out for consultation.
Mr Phillips said it is hoped the final document will be published in December.
Councillor Mick Grocott, safer and stronger communities leader, said the council is facing a problem in getting people to comment.
"Unless people feel directly affected it is hard to get them interested and involved. Ideally we would like everyone in the district to comment," he said.
The preferred options stage of the framework will build on earlier consultations and seek consensus on the approach for achieving sustainable development in the district.
The consultation will spell out the implications across the district and seek preferences on locations to meet the housing requirements.
The council will be writing to people who have already expressed an interest in the process and there will be a number of meetings and advertisements in local weekly newspapers.
Full details will also be available on the council's website and the deadline for responses will be June 8.
