Concerns over plans for more than 80 homes on Stafford land to be aired at public meeting

South Staffordshire District Council identified farmland at Weeping Cross, on the border with Stafford Borough, for up to 81 homes in its latest Local Plan.

The document, which will provide a blueprint for future development across the district in the years up to 2041, was submitted to the Secretary of State in December. An independent planning inspector is set to carry out a formal examination of the plan in due course.

The latest version of the plan was subject to a public consultation in spring 2024. It sparked objections from Acton Trussell, Bednall with Teddesley Hay Parish Council as well as neighbouring community leaders in Stafford Borough, and more than 100 people attended an emergency public meeting in May.

A further meeting is set to take place this Friday (February 28) at Acton Trussell, Bednall and Teddesley Hay Community Centre on Acton Hill Road, Acton Trussell, from 8pm. Stafford Borough Council member Jenny Barron, who represents the Weeping Cross and Wildwood ward, said: “Since our meeting on 10 May 2024 and our submission of objections, South Staffs Council has submitted its plan unchanged.

“The new government is changing planning regulations and plans to increase housebuilding. However, we still have valid reasons which should prevent this development and any that would follow.

“The site is disconnected from the habitations in the parish and there are no services from South Staffs to the site. We continue to object and we are seeking support for a parish Neighbourhood Plan and a formal Housing Needs Assessment to assist us in this battle.

“We will progress these matters and secure support at the meeting. We await notice of the formal examination by the Inspectorate and plan to attend to make representations.”

South Staffordshire Council is tasked with meeting a target of just over 4,700 new homes across the district between 2023 and 2041. The authority said on its website: “The Inspector will decide if our approach is sound, but we believe the evidence supports our approach.

“We have used non-Green Belt land already earmarked for development in our current plan, with new growth focussed in villages with the most facilities and services and where there are infrastructure opportunities. We have worked hard to bring forward brownfield options first, but there is very little available brownfield land in South Staffordshire.

“We have contained Green Belt release to our Tier 1 villages which are the most sustainable and have access to the rail network, and this will help us to meet our own housing need in the district. We know there are very difficult decisions to be made in providing new homes and protecting the Green Belt as much as we can, which is why less than 0.2% is being proposed to be released through the plan.”