Plans to build 109 houses refused again

The plans would have delivered 109 homes with 31 being classed as affordable

Plans to build 109 houses in part of Staffordshire have been refused again.

A Lichfield District Council planning meeting heard that the scheme in Fradley, near Lichfield, was not in compliance with the local plan, which had allocated the site for employment land, and access to the site was not suitable.

Specialists said lorry noise from a distribution centre would "blight new residents," Fradley Parish Council chairman Glen Bown told the meeting.

Of the 109 planned homes, 31 would have been classed as affordable.

Following a motion to refuse, councillors voted to reject the application, which had been recommended for approval by council officers.

Mr Bown took issue with fencing included in the plans to block noise from a nearby distribution centre.

"The developers' acoustic specialist says this is adequate. The owners of the distribution centre, their specialists say that the noise will without doubt blight new residents," he said.

“Social housing does not have to be poor housing, please don’t approve the slums of the future," he added.

Planning agent Philip Rawle said the advantages of the scheme were "clear and compelling," adding it would "deliver affordable housing, helping local people who are currently priced out of the market to own their own homes."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.