A controversial “concrete jungle” has been approved – despite hundreds of objectors’ fears about flooding, pollution and road safety.
The Hazelwalls Farm development will see 429 houses built on green land off Timber Lane, Uttoxeter.
A total of 323 people registered objections to the plan, which they fear will stretch infrastructure to breaking point.
Developer David Wilson Homes has pledged £6.4 million in “106 money” for “education, health and sports provision”.
Despite a probable extra 800 cars driving through town every day, highways chiefs said the roads around the development would still “operate within capacity”.
This conclusion was based on surveys conducted in 2006 and 2008, factoring in “projected growth”, as well as a vehicle count in Stafford Road last year.
Another major worry for those living near the site, which will be accessed through Sorrell Close and via a new roundabout on Abbots Bromley Road, is that historic flooding issues will be made worse.
Retired chartered mining engineer Bob Divers told yesterday’s East Staffordshire Borough Council planning meeting the flood risk assessments carried out had been “insufficient”.
Planning officers claimed “controlled drainage” on the site would reduce run-off into the nearby brook “60 per cent”.
Ward councillor Sue McGarry said: “In the last two years, I’ve been to the area around the site three times when flash flooding has occurred.
“Elderly people’s houses were letting in water and we had to get in our waders and put sandbags everywhere to mitigate the problem. In terms of Sorrell Close, when all the residents are home after work and school, the whole road is double-parked.
“To have another 70 houses being accessed through that road will cause havoc and children won’t be able to go outside to play.
“Abbots Bromley Road and Stafford Road, which will both see a huge increase in traffic, are rat warrens and people drive really quickly. The grass verge at the junction will be made smaller and I can see someone smashing into the periodic stones on there.
“But it’s not just those roads that will be affected – Kingfisher Way is also rat runs and the area around the roundabout at Stafford Road, Old Knotty Way and Birdland will see a massive increase in traffic. We encourage our children to walk to school, so we don’t want this many more cars on the routes they are using.”
Three sets of traffic lights will be installed at the junction of Stafford Road and Abbots Bromley Road and its adjoining grass verge will be made smaller.
The new estate will be made up of eight one-bed flats, 72 two-bedroom homes including 10 bungalows, 134 three-bed houses and 215 four-bed properties.
It will also provide eight hectares of “public green space” and a new half-hourly bus service will transport residents to and from the site.
Joe Murphy, speaking as an agent for David Wilson Homes, said: “Transport documents confirm the roads are appropriate and will operate within capacity and the county highways authority agrees there will be no detriment to the highways network.
“Attenuation pond will provide water run-off storage at both ends of the site and systems will manage flow and prevent flash flooding. This development will provide 429 new homes, with a mix of house types and sizes and affordable housing.
“There will be ecological and transport enhancements, including a half-hourly bus service to take residents around town. Jobs will be created during construction and 106 money of £6.4 million will be provided for education, healthcare and sports provision.”
Dream homes
Fifteen per cent of the new homes will be classed as “affordable”, but many of those will be for rent or shared ownership.
The site is included in the borough council’s Local Plan, which governs where houses can be built, but goes beyond the document’s agreed boundary.
Councillors who attended a site visit on the morning of the meeting were told a sub-station would be situated next to a children’s play area on the site.
Do you think the planning committee should have allowed the development to go ahead?
0+ VOTES SO FAR
The committee approved the new estate despite having to add 35 new conditions to David Wilson Homes’ proposal.
Nine committee members voted in favour, several did not vote and just one objected.
Councillor Syed Hussain, who did not vote, said: “We are favouring a greenfield site for housing. Should we really be building another concrete jungle?”
