Richborough Commercial has secured a new 192-acre site in Stone, Staffordshire.
Lying to the south of Stone, the company hopes that the site will meet the increasing demand for Industrial, logistics, and manufacturing space both in Staffordshire and nationally.
Planning
Nick Jones, Group Director of Richborough Commercial, said:
“We are delighted to have secured this high-quality site in this strategic location capable of providing much needed employment opportunities in the 1.5 million sq. ft that the land can deliver.
“We are undertaking the promotion work required to submit a planning application at the earliest opportunity. This follows on from the signing by Richborough of the northern element of a potential western arc for Stone, earlier this year.”At this stage no plans or proposals have been made public, but as soon as there’s a consultation or planning application, we
Who are Richborough?
Richborough is one of the UK’s leading independent land promoters.
Established in 2003, Richborough uses its land, planning and commercial expertise to identify sites and secure planning permission on behalf of landowners.
Their residential arm put forward a housing plan for land off Uttoxeter Road in Stone in 2014 – https://alittlebitofstone.com/2014/10/01/housing-plan-for-land-off-uttoxeter-road/
Stafford Borough Councillors Feedback
Stone’s Stafford Borough Councillors have issued an update on the recently reported development plans that are being formulated by Richborough Commercial for farmland adjacent to Stone Business Park.
“We, your local Stone Borough Councillors, have contacted SBC officers and asked questions.
We can inform residents that Stafford Borough Council councillors and officers have not had any meetings or discussions with Richborough Commercial. The Western Arc is certainly a new phrase to us.
They may have purchased or have an ‘option’ on the land but have yet to submit a planning application. Anyone can, usually with consultation of the land owner, submit a planning application.
A planning application will then be considered firstly by planning officers and then secondly, given that this is a large scale development, by a planning committee. At the same time, residents can submit objections or even support, should they wish to.
The sites identified by Richborough are outside of the ‘Strategic Development location for Employment’ boundary within the Plan for Stafford Borough 2011-2031.
Rob Kenney
Stafford Borough Councillor”
18 comments
Sally
Extremely concerned about even more development along the A34. Stafford is creeping out towards Stone already with major housing and commercial development including the ginormous Pets at Home warehouse and we already had a large area tarmacced for storage of new cars which lights up the night sky ! and a huge distribution warehouse suddenly appeared at the Stone island and then lay empty for over a year. A real eyesore. Why isn’t there green belt land between Stafford and Stone? one purpose of which is to maintain the separation and identity of towns and villages. Soon Stafford and Stone will merge and Stone will no longer be a pretty market canal town. Many of the farms on the A34 are council owned, who is selling this land ?
Ryan
This petion has nearly reached 500
signatures in a short amount of time please sign and let’s keep rural stone tap the link below to support !
https://chng.it/DrkJmV2Hv8
Stephen Hicks
ALBOS. This is a planning promotion agreement. I know Richborough have used the verb “secured” and you have followed their wording but it would be good to make it plain that Richborough don’t own this land. Rather they have contracted with the land owner to develop plans with a view to seeking planning approval.
Loveday
Let’s just concrete over all those fields. We don’t need to grow food or breathe fresh air. As ever making money comes before the well being of human beings.
Mark
Even more poured concrete destroys natural habitats for barn owls, badgers and bats and birds in the area.
The ratio of buildings to land surface area in the UK is already too much when you consider humans aren’t the only residents.
Jim
Don’t panic: combined, all the buildings in the UK cover only 1.4% of the total land surface. That’s a lot of green and pleasant land. We could concrete over 50% of the land and most of us wouldn’t notice.
Josephine
More Green space/ farmers fields GONE …..Another farmer got rich
Ryan
There are already huge units empty on stone buisness park how can people farm if there is no land left everyone should oppose this there is absolutely no need for it !
Gail
More logistics really what about schools, doctors surgeries and community centres
Fionnuala Wylie
On prime farmland!! Much easier to develop…but there is a vast amount of ” brown fill” or whatever they designate it as nearby…,,
Neil Richardson
This site looks larger than the business park next to it. How come fertile green space is being considered. Surely that’s wrong.
It seems like yet another get rich quick company has spotted an opening and are going to exploit it.
If you want to oppose this then form a working group and get ready with the objections etc. But look at what’s happened to Tilling Drive Recreation Park. The council didn’t listen then. Would they now!
Angela
Devastating news. As others have said there are empty units. More green land gone.
Jill wood
Yes all our green spaces are being ramen away from our little town soon there will be nothing left only buildings
Jim
Don’t panic: combined, all the buildings in the UK cover only 1.4% of the total land surface. That’s a lot of green and pleasant land. Stone’s no different than any similar town in the UK.
Mark
Even more poured concrete destroys natural habitats for barn owls, badgers and bats and birds in the area.
The ratio of buildings to land surface area in the UK is already too much when you consider humans aren’t the only residents.
Paula Smith
Not sure what the increasing demand for Industrial, logistics, is all about! We have empty industrial areas not being used already. This is disgusting for residents of Stone that we have no say in this. Soon there will be no fields left and it will simply be a huge industrial area between Stone and Stafford . There is no thought from whoever thought this was a good idea.
Jill wood
Yes all our green spaces are being ramen away from our little town soon there will be nothing left only buildings
Tim
Absolutely disgusting, I agree!
This has to stop, ruining green belt when there are industrial areas already available for development.
Obviously some backhanders going on here!