Controversial Stafford housing estate gets green light
A controversial housing estate will be built on the site a former factory – despite concerns over traffic.
Plans for 85 homes at the site off the Fairway and St Leonards Avenue roundabout, near the entrance to Stafford Town Football Club, were given the go-ahead yesterday.
Outline planning permission for more houses – the number of which is not yet known – was also accepted as part of the 'hybrid' bid.
Developers St Modwen previously had outline proposals for 194 properties east of the plot accepted in 2015.
Members of the planning committee – except for one who abstained and one objection from Forebridge ward councillor Christine Baron – approved the proposals.
Councillor Baron said she would welcome the houses but had concerns about the road network and facilities for extra families in the area. "We are going to have a reduction in traffic at peak times but cars will be travelling throughout the day instead," she said.
"There's traffic and speeding around that roundabout and elderly people cross the road regularly.
"There are no health facilities and the nearest doctors are oversubscribed. All these people coming to live in the area the infrastructure and facilities are not there. And this has got to be looked at.
"The primary school at the top of the road is always full, there are never any spaces. Where are children going to go? The next nearest is St John's on the Weston Road and that is usually pretty full.
"I'm not against the houses but I do think the whole infrastructure and facilities needs to be looked at. I'm very concerned."
A public exhibition was held in March 2016 promising that around 300 homes would be built in total on the site. But since, the developer has not given an actual number on the scheme.
The 85 homes would include two five-bedroom houses, 14 four-beds, 32 three-beds, nine two-beds and eight one-bedroom homes.
On top of these, 20 affordable homes will be built, made up of eight two-bedroom and eight three-bedroom as well as four four-bedroom houses.
Committee member Carolyn Trowbridge was in support of the homes.
She said: "Over 290 people have been consulted on this and we had one objection in the area. What are we doing people? I want to put this forward to accept it with – obviously – the recommendations."
Councillor Ann Edgeller backed the scheme but had concerns over not offering accommodation to elderly residents.
She added: "Why don't we take into consideration the amount of senior citizens with over 65s? All these houses have got spares in them but we're not thinking about our older generation. It is an appeal I made at the consultation and I'll throw it into the fire to ask why we aren't looking at our older generation when we're building these homes."
