Residents have met to discuss three major planning applications affecting Stone, which could see up to 870 additional homes built in the area.
The meeting, held at Walton Community Centre on Thursday 15 October, was arranged by Councillor Jon Powell and gave residents a chance to discuss the planning applications on Marlborough Road and Eccleshall Road.
Residents at the meeting said the developments would add to existing issues such as flooding, drainage and pressure on local amenities.
The three applications 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.
Taylor Wimpey has also submitted an outline planning application for up to 120 homes on land off Marlborough Road.
Councillor Powell said the three applications, together with the completed development at Udall Grange, would be equivalent to the number of houses in Barlaston.
He also told residents that he would call the applications into the planning committee, but highlighted changes to national planning rules.
From 31 October, a new national scheme of delegation is due to come into force. This means more applications will be decided by planning officers, with tighter restrictions on which cases can be called in to the planning committee.
Applications will fall into two categories, Schedule One and Schedule Two. Schedule One covers smaller types of development, while Schedule Two deals with larger or more complex applications.
For an application to go to committee, it would need to raise an economic, social or environmental issue of significance to the local area, or a significant planning matter. Both the chair of the planning committee and the head of planning would also need to agree.
A number of concerns were raised by residents at the meeting, including flooding from nearby fields and fears that replacing land which currently absorbs water with hardstanding would cause more surface water run-off.
Councillor Powell told residents that Severn Trent had said developments should avoid increasing the amount of rainwater and surface water entering sewers, as this would increase the risk of flooding.
Speaking after the meeting, resident Joan Goodwin said:
“I know we need more houses, but I think this area has done its fair share. There are already issues and more houses are just going to make the situation worse.”
Councillor Jon Powell added:
“For me, the biggest strength of any community is the fact that we’re a community and we have unity. When we’re bound together it does create strength.
I will be doing everything I can do. I will have my five minutes there and I will be making a very strong argument.”
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