Thousands of new homes for Cannock approved

Almost 6,000 homes will be built over the next 14 years to meet the strong demand for housing.

The proposal was just one aspect of Cannock Chase Council's local plan, which was discussed at a full council meeting last night.

Under the wider improvement plan approved by councillors, 41 new traveller pitches will also be created across the area and leisure facilities will be improved, with a view of transforming the former Brereton Colliery into a tourist attraction.

Councillor Gordon Allcott, economic development and planning chief, said: "The local plan consists of a strategic development of the district, which includes the town centre, Towers Business Park in Rugeley and land identified for new homes, with 500 for Rugeley and Brereton and others in the Lichfield area.

"The plan will improve recreation and sport and will be a significant milestone for the area. It is one of the largest consultation documents we have ever known."

A total of 2,350 new houses will be built on 'urban sites' in the district, with more than 700 homes to be created off Pye Green Road in Hednesford.

A further 500 will be built in Rugeley and Brereton.

Council bosses are yet to decide the exact locations of where the remaining homes will be built.

Councillor Allcott said the housing developments will create more jobs, reducing unemployment and helping the district to grow economically.

He added: "I welcome the plan because companies like Amazon have already come to the area benefitting the people who live here.

"Amazon are going to massively increase job allocation and lets hope that business will feed down to the town centres so that we can regenerate them and the money from people who have secured new jobs will be ploughed into local shops and businesses helping our towns thrive.

"The government has found our local plan to be sound so we are looking forward to moving ahead with it."

In a report to the committee, inspector Stephen Pratt said the level of provision for housing was based on a 'robust and sound objective assessment of housing requirements for market and affordable housing in the district.'