New housing estate plans for underused council depot land
Dozens of homes will be built on a council depot site to tackle the housing list of hundreds of people in Cannock.
Plans have been approved for 44 houses on the Hawks Green Council Depot off Old Hednesford Road.
Half of the new homes on the Hawks Green site will be affordable council homes aimed at cutting a housing waiting list of 900 families, a council meeting heard last year.
And on Wednesday the authority’s planning committee approved an application for 44 homes on the northern half of the site, which will be accessed off Hednesford Old Road.
Two cul de sacs are planned, with a mix of one, two and three bedroom properties. These include 14 houses and eight flats for affordable rent.
A report to the committee said: “The site is currently underutilised. This housing development will make the best use of council land and create an attractive environment.
“Twenty-two units will be for council housing, providing affordable homes for rent that are in high demand, (and) 22 units will be for open market sale to create a mixed tenure, sustainable community.”
There were no objections from residents received by the council.
Planning committee member Councillor Frank Allen said: “I’m pleased to see the site includes 22 affordable dwellings which are much needed. I see no reason to turn this down.”
The number of services at Cannock Chase Council’s Hawks Green Depot has reduced in recent years, and the site is now considered too large for the remaining facilities provided there. Around half the 1.8 hectare (4.4 acre) site is needed for the remaining services.
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has offered a £900,000 grant towards the development of housing on the Hawks Green site.
Speaking in June 2019 Councillor John Kraujalis, cabinet member for housing, said: “Half of it is not being used. With the rationalisation of the facilities at the depot we can use half of the land.
“Affordable homes for rent are in high demand in the district – there are just over 900 households on the council housing list. The Housing Needs Assessment identified a need for 110 additional affordable homes per annum.
“It is proposed the council’s Housing Revenue Account will fund the provision of 22 affordable council homes for rent, however a further 22 homes are for outright sale.
“It is good news we are using a facility that is currently under-used for the benefit of people on the housing register and who want to buy a property – it’s a win win situation for everybody involved, including the council.”
