Plans for a new housing development off Marlborough Road in Walton have been reduced from up to 140 homes to up to 120, but town councillors remain concerned about pressure on local roads and services.
Stone town councillors also highlighted the cumulative impact of several housing developments proposed around Walton at their latest meeting on Tuesday 1 September.
Taylor Wimpey submitted an outline planning application for up to 140 homes on land off Marlborough Road last year. The same application, reference 25/41057/OUT, has now been amended to reduce the maximum number of homes to 120.
Residents have until Friday 11 September to comment on the revised plans.
Walton has already seen the development of Udall Grange in recent years, while further applications have been submitted for land around Eccleshall Road.
A planning statement addendum submitted with the Marlborough Road revisions said comments had been received from the borough council’s officers and other consultees since the original application was lodged.
It said:
“Most consultees have raised no objections to the grant of planning permission, subject in some cases to conditions being attached to the permission or planning obligations being agreed.
“The council’s Design Officer, Arboriculture Officer and Leisure Services team have made comments in relation to design related matters, principally density, the quantum of open space and the location of proposed development relative to the root protection areas (RPAs) of existing trees. In response to comments made by officers and consultees, the scheme has been amended.”
The internal road layout has also been changed, with Marlborough Road extending further into the site and forming part of a loop road.
The addendum said:
“The Category A tree forms the focal point of a re-imagined central green corridor, which extends virtually uninterrupted from the northern boundary to the southern boundary.
“The corridor has been widened and provides for the retention of the vast majority of the existing hedgerow; additional planting is also proposed through the green corridor.
“A larger landscaped buffer has been incorporated, particularly along the southern and western boundaries of the site. These buffers include significantly more tree planting to create a stronger landscaped edge to the development and a pedestrian route as part of the Movement Strategy.”
A Tatenhill Walk resident has objected to the revised plans. Concerns raised include increased traffic, noise and pollution, the loss of green space used for walking and recreation, and additional pressure on schools and health services.
Town and borough councillor Jon Powell said:
“The amendment is reducing the overall number of dwellings from 140 to 120, it doesn’t make much of a difference for me. Residents have been contacted by letter and it has caused a massive amount of worry again.
“I reiterate my concerns about the local sewage system and pressure on local amenities. We know amenities are very stretched and they will be put under extra pressure.
“It will put an awful lot of pressure onto the road system. We have an application for 240 homes, another for 500 homes and Udall Grange has already landed, it equates roughly to the same amount of houses that exist in Barlaston, by the side of Stone and Walton.
“It’s just not feasible. The area will not take that level of traffic, development and hit on our resources.”
The other two major applications referred to include Richborough Estates’ proposal for up to 240 homes off Eccleshall Road and Bloor Homes’ application for up to 510 homes, specialist housing for older people and a first school on land north of Eccleshall Road.
Together with the revised Marlborough Road proposal, the three applications are seeking permission for up to 870 homes.
ALBOS previously reported on the original 140 home Marlborough Road application after it was submitted in 2025. If outline planning permission is granted, further reserved matters applications would be needed to determine details such as the final layout, appearance and landscaping.
Residents can view and comment on the revised application through Stafford Borough Council’s Planning Public Access system by searching for reference 25/41057/OUT.
1 comment
Jeanette Riley
Walton cannot cope with any more housing…The roads are heavily congested as it is…You cant get doctors appointments as surgeries cant cope with the heavy population now..Why keep allowing are green belts to be taken up by greedy builders…Please STOP THE BUILDING IN STONE, its ruining our lovely town…