Planning application submitted for two bungalows on controversially sold neighbourhood green

A neighbourhood green that was snapped up by a local developer earlier this year, outbidding a local residents consortium, has a planning application submitted for the erection of up to two bungalows on it.

Back in January, we reported how residents who lived on Walton’s Heath Gardens had been raising funds to secure their local green after the land was bought, along with many other local areas of green space.

The resident’s bid £18,000 for the green; however, they lost out with the winning bid being £18,500 – this winning bid could have potentially also gone higher.

Now the new owner of the land has submitted to Stafford Borough Council a “planning permission in principle” application that states:

“21/34281/PIP | Planning Permission in Principle – Erection of up to two bungalows and provision of enhanced area of community amenity space on adjoining land | Land At Heath Gardens Stone Staffordshire”

The resident’s group who launched the Facebook – Preserve the green on Heath Gardens is hoping that the recently passed Stone Neighbourhood Plan will help weigh in with the land now designated as “Local Green Infrastructure”.

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The Neighbourhood plan states this about the space:

The “Preserve the green on Heath Gardens” team are asking residents to view the planning application and lodge complaints as they hope to demonstrate to the planners at Stafford Borough Council that the land is a community asset that is well used by residents in the area.

Kristy and Darren Lewis of Preserve the green on Heath Gardens told A Little Bit of Stone:

“Our aim has always been to preserve The Green as a safe, green space for the community to enjoy now and for the future. Having been unsuccessful in our attempts to make a community purchase, we are now faced with plans for the building of houses on this precious community land.

We witnessed the strength of feeling for the retention of the green and other such green spaces when a staggering £19,000 was raised in just 2 weeks back in January. We are again reaching out to the community for your support, please take the time to register your comments to Stafford Borough Council. “

To make a comment on the application, or to see further information click this link to be taken to the Stafford Borough Council planning portal -> Application 21/34281/PIP