430 homes and retail units plan for Stafford

The outline application for 430 homes and up to 575 sq m of retail space for land off Fairway in Littleworth has been recommended for approval by Stafford Borough Council’s officers, and the planning committee is set to make a decision next Tuesday week at a special meeting.

St Modwen Developments Ltd submitted the plans more than a year ago, and it has been called in to be considered by the committee by ward councillors over concerns that the area will cope with the extra traffic.

But officers have recommended the outline plans are approved at the meeting on April 30, subject to conditions.

The application site covers 23ha of land and is bounded by St Leonard’s Avenue/Fairway to the west, the West Coast Main Railway Line (WCMRL) to the south and by open land to the east and north, leading to the River Sow, with housing on Tixall Road beyond.

The application said the development would offer: In the plans it says: “In summary, the proposed site offers a full range of public amenities within a 1km distance.

“It has excellent transport links which make it a viable place to live for people of all ages and physical abilities, with higher than average railway connections and within walking distance from the town centre.

“It has numerous safe and convenient cycle and pedestrian routes that connect with local developments and facilities.“A wide variety of opportunities for employment with the town centre only 1km away, plus good access to facilities outside the town, such as the university, hospital and numerous leisure opportunities.

This would be in addition to “An opportunity to provide new build housing that is designed for modern standards of living in a location where there is little new development.”

“A settlement opportunity that is both accessible to existing amenities and town centre, whilst also on the edge of large green spaces leading out to open countryside.”

The site was previously occupied by the company Aviva, which had industrial buildings covering approximately 50 per cent of the overall area.

Only details of access have been submitted for approval at this stage. Current access to the site is off the roundabout that connects Fairway (north) and St Leonards Avenue (west).

Minor amendments will be made to the access road within the site in order to provide wider footways and grass verges.

If the outline plan is approved by councillors next week, the finer details will have to be approved in a reserved matters application at a later date.