Plans submitted for 480 home estate in rural town

Kerry AshdownLocal Democracy Reporter
News imageBloor Homes An aerial illustration of a housing development, showing fields around the houses.Bloor Homes
The development is proposed for construction to the east of Eccleshall, with 40% of the dwellings earmarked as affordable housing

Plans for up to 480 new homes on land in a rural Staffordshire town have been submitted to Stafford Borough Council.

Developer Bloor Homes is also proposing providing land for community facilities including a new primary school and a site for a new primary care hub on the land west of Blurtons Lane, south of Stone Road and north of Stafford Road, Eccleshall.

About 40% of the homes are set to be affordable housing and the properties will be energy-efficient, the developer has said.

More than 4,000 people have signed a petition calling for Eccleshall to be protected from overdevelopment, with concerns the number of planning applications for homes could almost double the town's size over the coming years.

Max Whitehead, from Bloor Homes West Midlands, said they were "aware of the concerns that some in the community have in relation to future housing growth".

In recognition of that, they would be "delivering important community infrastructure alongside much-needed new homes".

The company has proposed funding a new school development, but it would be up to the local education authority to approve and build it. And the developer has proposed providing land and some funding for a health centre, which the NHS would have to deliver.

A new spine road link, between Stafford Road and Stone Road, and a "comprehensive sustainable drainage strategy" also formed part of the scheme, the firm's planning director said.

In August, Eccleshall Parish Council agreed to allocate £10,000 to fight plans for large housing developments in the town.

Clarification 16 December: We have added more context making clear that while Bloor Homes has offered land and funding towards a proposed new school and health centre, it would be for the local education authority and NHS to deliver them.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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