Campaigners threaten legal action over 2,200 new homes

But opponents of the scheme have already vowed to take the borough council to court.

A total of 2,200 properties are planned for the Castlefields site to tackle a housing shortage.

Bellway Homes wants to build an initial 170-home estate to the south of Doxey as the first phase of the development, which will be completed over the next 17 years.

The land at Castlefields, between Doxey and Stafford Castle, is included in Stafford Borough Council's Local Plan.

However, a petition with just over 650 signatures opposing the development was handed to council bosses four weeks ago. Those opposed to the scheme claim residents are being ignored.

As a result, the application was called in by Councillor Isabella Davies who said the scheme did not comply with a 'master plan' drawn up before applications were granted for any part of the larger site. She was particularly concerned about the impact on the existing and future road network.

But planning chiefs now say the development meets the needs of the Local Plan. A special council meeting tomorrow(WED) will decide whether to go along with the recommendation.

And parish councillor Neil Thomas was today meeting the borough council's head of regeneration Ted Manders to press them on the issue.

He said: "If they go ahead, we will take the borough council to court. We do not think they are complying with the Local Plan.

"We accept there will be a big development here but we are also demanding that there is a master plan that has been agreed by the people. There is a master plan of sorts but not one that has gone out to public consultation. That is our argument with them, that this has not been done properly.

"We have now taken legal advice and we are absolutely sure we will win this."

Bellway's planning application was due to be considered by planning committee members in September when officers recommended it for approval but a decision was put on hold due to a lack of detail.

The proposal includes two, three and four-bedroom homes, with 30 per cent being social housing, shops, a primary school and a community building incorporating a library service and a GP practice.

A risk assessment shows that much of the site lies within a flood zone with an intermediate danger of the site being flooded. However the council propose to raise the ground, as advised by the Environment Agency, to lessen the risk.

Stafford Rugby Club will have to relocate under the plans. It is expected the first homes would be finished and ready to move into as early as next year(2015).