Plan for 155 homes in Stafford withdrawn

Proposals for the homes and 55 care apartments next to the A34 Cannock Road were refused by the council last year after a coach-load of residents attended a planning committee meeting.

Developer Gladman Land submitted an appeal against South Staffordshire Council's decision to refuse permission, then withdrew the appeal at a later date.

Then a fresh application was submitted for the 7.9 hectare site in December last year, sparking anger from residents.

A petition was launched earlier this year and more than 500 people signed it.

Now the new application, which had 171 comments objecting and none in support, was withdrawn on Wednesday.

Councillor Ray Barron, for Weeping Cross and Wildwood Ward, said: "It's excellent news for us, the whole of our estate was against the development in the field next door.

"It is green field land too which a farmer uses.

"So we're over the moon that they've withdrawn it.

"I don't exactly know the reason why it was withdrawn and I'm hoping that the matter is closed now.

"Hopefully there won't be any more attempts at getting hundreds of houses built on the field as the roads wouldn't stand it, the traffic is bad enough now as it is."

The news comes after a 'misleading' brochure previously distributed by the developer was banned by the Advertising Standards Authority after portraying the previous development as a seven-acre park.

Gladman Land sent brochures to residents designed to look like a newspaper titled ‘The Staffordshire Standard’ with a front page story heralding the arrival of a new country park on their doorstep.

However the leaflets were in fact trying to gain support for the application to build 155 houses and 55 care apartments.

Objections were made to the Advertising Standards Authority, which has upheld the complaint that it is misleading.