Penkridge development set for go ahead

A housing development, supermarket and hotel earmarked for land near a Staffordshire village are poised to be given the go-ahead – despite opposition from residents and parish councillors.

Plans for the Lyne Hill Industrial Estate in Penkridge, which would play host to 150 homes, also include a nursing home and petrol station.

Planning chiefs at South Staffordshire Council have recommended the scheme be approved, despite staunch objections.

The 34.19 acres site, adjacent to Wolverhampton Road, would have three access points, one from Wolverhampton Road and two from Boscomoor Lane.

Developers Northcreek Estates held an exhibition in January where residents were given an early indication of the plans for the brownfield site.

Plans include a 45,000 sq ft supermarket, non-food retail of 30,000 sq ft, a six-pump petrol station, a 70 bedroom three-storey hotel, a two-storey 60 bedroom nursing home.

There have been 51 letters of objections from nearby residents, and a petition featuring the names of 500 people.

Main objections are related to the closure of an employment site, a negative impact on existing traders, wildlife concerns, an over crowding of houses, schools not being able to cope with more pupils, no teenage facilities, a loss of trees, traffic safety fears and the fact it will be too far from the main centre of Penkridge.

The council has received two comments of support which say having more retailers to choose from is a good thing and that a new nursing home is needed in the area.

Bevan Craddock, says Penkridge Parish Council is unanimously against the scheme.

He said: "It's unfortunate that it has come up at Christmas time when people are busy and have other things on their minds."

Mr Craddock says money would be better spent reinvesting in jobs at the industrial site. He added: "We want small workshops and people creating new businesses. We don't need new houses, there are already too many supermarkets in the area and I think traffic problems will be horrendous.

"A lot of people think competition is good, but at times like this, the last thing you want is lots of competition."

South Staffordshire Council will make a decision next Tuesday, when the regulatory committee meet at 6.30pm.

Planning chiefs say the approval would include the provision of section 106 money to support the "vitality and viability" of the village centre.

Suggestions include improvements to car parks and a hop on bus service to link the development to the main village.