Residents in Stone have raised concerns about flooding and infrastructure strain over three major planning applications that could bring up to 870 new homes to the area.
A public meeting at Walton Community Centre on 15 October, arranged by Councillor Jon Powell, gave residents the chance to discuss the proposals on Marlborough Road and Eccleshall Road.
The three applications
Richborough Estates has proposed up to 240 homes off Eccleshall Road. Bloor Homes has submitted an 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 told residents that these three applications, together with the completed development at Udall Grange, would be equivalent to the number of houses in Barlaston.
Resident concerns
At the meeting, residents raised multiple concerns about the developments. They said the proposals would add to existing issues with flooding, drainage and pressure on local amenities.
Specific worries included 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.
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."
How the planning process works
Councillor Powell said he would call the applications into the planning committee. However, he highlighted changes to national planning rules coming into force from 31 October.
From that date, a new national scheme of delegation will mean 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 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.
Councillor Powell said: "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."