Stafford Borough Council's Planning Committee has rejected plans for up to 72 new homes on land between the Trent and Mersey Canal and Old Road on the edge of Barlaston.
The application, submitted by Inglewood Investment Company Limited, originally sought permission for 81 homes before being reduced to 72. It proposed 36 affordable homes and 36 market homes.
Planning officers vs councillors
Planning officers at Stafford Borough Council had recommended the application for approval, concluding the land was "Grey Belt" rather than Green Belt. However, MP Dr Allison Gardner, Barlaston Parish Council, Swynnerton Parish Council, and 150 residents objected to the proposals, arguing the site was Green Belt land and that development would be inappropriate and could lead to Barlaston merging with Trentham.
Barlaston ward councillor Gareth Jones called in the application for consideration by the Planning Committee on the grounds of "development in the Green Belt" and "development outside of the Barlaston Plan".
Committee decision
The committee considered the application at its meeting on Wednesday 30 September.
Stephen Harris, speaking in support, argued that because the council had not updated its Local Plan, national policy designated the land as Grey Belt, meaning development should be acceptable. He also highlighted a "substantial shortfall in deliverable housing land in the borough" and described Barlaston as "a key service village" and sustainable location.
In a statement read at the meeting, Councillor Jones said: "My main concern is that the committee is being asked to approve principle of development on this scale without enough evidence to judge its effects on heritage and village character. The site lies between the Trent and Mersey Canal Conservation Area and within the setting of Grade II Listed Barlaston Hall."
He added: "I recognise the need for new homes and affordable housing. But those benefits do not remove the need to properly assess heritage harm, or to show that the scale of the development can be accommodated without damaging the village's character."
Previous rejection
A previous application for 42 affordable homes on the same site was refused by Stafford Borough Council in 2022. The authority said it had not been demonstrated that a need existed for the development in that location and the proposal was "not considered to fall under the definition of a rural exception site" due to its "excessive size and scale".