A trio of major housing developments in Walton, Stone could reshape the western edge of the town, with more than 880 new homes being proposed across three neighbouring sites. While none have yet moved forward with official planning applications, the scale of what’s being considered has prompted a wave of public interest.
Three developers, one corner of Walton
The three proposals, from Bloor Homes, Richborough Estates, and Taylor Wimpey, all focus on land around Eccleshall Road in Walton, with Bloor’s site to the north of the road, and the other two located to the south.
Here’s a quick summary of what’s being put forward:
- Bloor Homes: 505 homes on farmland to the north of Eccleshall Road, along with space for a new primary school and a local centre. Plans were first reported in March.
- Richborough Estates: 240 homes on fields to the south of Eccleshall Road. Their consultation ends on 19th May.
- Taylor Wimpey: 140 homes also to the south, off Marlborough Road. The consultation ends on the 22nd May, with a public consultation on the 8th May.
All still in early stages
All three developers have begun public consultations but are yet to submit formal planning applications to Stafford Borough Council. That means these ideas are still very much proposals, not done deals.
The Bloor scheme is the furthest along, with early plans already shared for 505 homes, a new primary school, and supporting facilities like a retail unit or local shop.
Taylor Wimpey and Richborough Estates, meanwhile, are using public feedback to shape their eventual applications. Both have launched dedicated consultation platforms to invite comments from local residents.
Concerns and conversations
Unsurprisingly, the proposals have prompted strong reactions from the community. Questions about traffic, school places, GP capacity and infrastructure are top of mind.
The sites are in an area of countryside that’s increasingly being earmarked for expansion as Stone grows. While the demand for housing is clear, residents are wary of the wider impact.
As one commenter on the ALBOS Facebook page put it: “It’s not just the houses, it’s the strain on everything else. Roads, doctors, schools – we’re already stretched.”
Next steps
Each developer will now be compiling feedback and refining their plans ahead of formal submissions to Stafford Borough Council. Once applications are submitted, they’ll be open for public comment on the council’s planning portal.
With the potential for over 880 homes, these developments – if progressed – would significantly alter Walton’s landscape.
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7 comments
Tom Anderson
It is with concern I read about more plans for new houses in Stone. At the moment we have roads either in gridlock or littered with potholes like tank traps. We have the same healthcare facilities as we had 7 years ago even tho the size of Stone has almost doubled.We have a major supermarket that at times takes an hour to get out the car park. We have a sewage system that frequently pumps raw sewage into the river Trent. And we are told this is progress . Not in my eyes it is destruction of green space.
Lesley Reynolds
Developers pay thousands of pounds to councils/planning departments, over and above the costs for planning.
To be used for infrastructure directly, where does it go???
A detailed list and ring fenced amounts published separately would be a great help.So it does not get swallowed up in projects not required.
The same us happening in Eccleshall.
Doreen Martin
I would like to know where the access road to Bloor Homes development will be leading off Eccleshall Road. The current development, Udall Grange, does not have the capacity for double the amount of traffic.
Andrew Ward
The area, Doctors and roads are overloaded. No more before we get grid lock
Ken taylor
Will the new developers contribute to schools, doctors , upgraded sewage systems. Nooooo. Walton roundabout will be a no go area at peak times. More poor farmers making a fortune selling off land to developers.
Philip Ruscoe
Agree Ken, but Walton roundabout is already a no go at peak times, it can take 30 minutes to get into town from Cold Norton
Robert Jones
Stafford Borough Council has recently been criticised for not getting on with delivering their local plan despite huge amounts of time,and no doubt lots of money spent on consultation exercises and public presentations on the “Meecebrook” village project. Developers will try to run amok if they are allowed, due to lack of a coherent plan by SBC, and it looks that the Walton area may be under attack, partly because of SBC’s short comings.
Stone has seen relatively heavy building development in recent years without any change in infrastructure. Schools are full, health services are stretched and roads often choked around the Walton roundabout.
The current Government’s stated plans to ride roughshod, over who they now call “blockers,” (rather than members of the public with valid objections), will further encourage developers to pick off more and more green areas because they care more about profit than the impact on the communities where they build.