Cannock Chase Council leader opposes home development

The leader of Cannock Chase Council has joined a tide of opposition against plans for a 700-home development in Staffordshire.

Hednesford Green Heath councillor George Adamson has joined in the debate surrounding the development, which will also include a new school, shops and road west of Pye Green Road in the town.

Two petitions and 58 letters opposing the proposals have been submitted citing concerns over traffic, noise and the proposed number of low-cost homes.

If the plans are given the go-ahead, 225 of the new houses are set to be delivered between 2013 and 2016, with the other 525 set to arrive by 2017 onwards. Councillor Adamson said there will be too many houses that many people will not be able to afford.

He said: "I am concerned about how many houses there are and how the local infrastructure will cope. There is a low level of social housing, and I am not sure they will be meeting the needs of the local community. I wonder if the local schools will be able to cope. There is a school in the plans, but it is entry level only."

Hednesford businessman, and former councillor Graham Burnett, who lives in Station Road, has been one of the most vocal campaigners since the plans were mooted.

Today, he said the land should be protected as green space for the people of Hednesford. He said: "I think it is a step too far.

"It should be protected as open green space, and plans like this should be kept within certain urban boundaries."

Seventy of the new houses will be one-bedroom, 140 will be two, 210 will be three, another 210 will be four and 70 will be five.

The council says 14 per cent of the new homes will be affordable housing.