Publication Plan November 2022

Support

Representation ID: 4323

Received: 22/12/2022

Respondent: Stafford Borough Council

Stafford Borough supports the preferred option of meeting current local housing need of 4,097 plus 4,000 homes towards the Black Country shortfall due to the impact on the West Midlands Green Belt and need to minimise infrastructure implications for neighbouring areas.

The Borough Council can confirm it is not in a position to meet any of the shortfall arising from the Black Country at this stage and furthermore can not provide for any unmet gypsy, traveller & travelling show-people needs within Stafford Borough.

Object

Representation ID: 4324

Received: 22/12/2022

Respondent: Stafford Borough Council

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

The Borough Council supports an appropriate balance across Tier 1 to 3 settlements based on access to services and facilities and a focus on maximising the use of brownfield land. It has significant concerns in terms of Policy DS5 and Table 8 regarding an urban extension of Stafford Town for 81 houses. This location is less sustainable and deliverable than other sites in South Staffordshire adjacent to or in close vicinity to the Black Country authorities where the need is originating.

Object

Representation ID: 4325

Received: 22/12/2022

Respondent: Stafford Borough Council

Legally compliant? Yes

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Yes

Reference to development South of Stafford should not have been included in the New Local Plan, including reference in Policy SA5 and the proforma in Appendix C. The development does not demonstrate it would provide appropriate infrastructure to mitigate the impact. To date there is limited information in the latest IDP to show that education impacts can be mitigated, that affordable housing and leisure contributions will be provided to Stafford and that setting impacts on the Cannock Chase AONB will be acceptable.

Evidence received from Staffordshire County Council demonstrates that this area of Stafford Town is not able to accommodate further school provision. The County Council also previously informed Stafford Borough Council that the education contributions will need to be secured from this development towards additional primary school places. The Borough Council looks forward to receiving confirmation that the affordable housing provided by this site.

Development to the south of Stafford Town settlement boundary would be in the immediate setting of the AONB and lead to a detrimental impact on the AONB so should not go ahead. The AONB Management Plan 2019-24 emphasises the importance of maintaining the quality and distinctiveness of the landscape character.

Comment

Representation ID: 4326

Received: 22/12/2022

Respondent: Stafford Borough Council

The Borough Council also notes the area of search along the A449 corridor for a new settlement beyond the plan period, after 2039 in Policy DS6 which includes the area around Dunston south of the Stafford Borough boundary. However this option, when previously assessed through the GBHMA Strategic Growth Study 2018 was not one of the recommended areas of search for strategic development. Any development in this location would have significant impacts on Stafford Borough. The Strategic Growth Study identified north of Penkridge as a recommended area of search for a strategic urban extension. In our view this warrants further investigation, as an alternative to a new settlement or to new homes south of Stafford.