New greenfield homes approved

Committee members vote unanimously to approve application for Leek development

TWENTY five new homes are to be built on a greenfield site in Leek.

Members of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council’s planning applications committee gave approval for the layout, landscaping and scale relating to the development of the houses on land off Milltown Way for Gladman Developments last week.

The site had already got outline planning permission for development which was granted on an appeal by a government inspector.

In a report to councillors, planning officer Ailsa Berry said: “The committee determined the previous outline application at the site, which members refused, but permission was allowed on appeal.

“The site comprises 6.19 hectares of greenfield land to the west and northwest of Milltown Way and to the south, west and northwest of Pickwood Recreation Ground. Leek town centre is located 800 metres from the centre of the site.

“The site is outside the

Development Boundary of Leek and comprises pasture/meadowland divided by hedgerows with some mature trees. It is located within the defined county landscape character type ‘Dissected Sandstone Cloughs and Valleys.’ Pickwood Hall, a Grade II Listed Building, lies to the southwest of the application site.

“The main entry point into the site is from Milltown Way. An internal road layout was also approved as part of the outline permission.

“The principle of the development has been accepted by the approval of outline permission that was allowed on appeal in 2017.

“The application was subject to a legal agreement, which included the provision of affordable housing.

“The legal agreement specified that 33 per cent of the units will be affordable, which will be made up of 70 per cent affordable rented housing and 30 per cent intermediate housing.

“Eight dwellings are proposed to be affordable (in line with the 33 per cent requirement contained in the legal agreement) with six proposed as affordable rented housing and two proposed as intermediate housing. Of the affordable units, six will comprise two-bedroom semidetached or terraced properties and two will comprise three-bedroom semi-detached properties.

“There will be a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced properties. Five different house types are proposed which will comprise six two-bedroom properties, eight three-bedroom properties and 11 four-bedroom properties.”

Speaking to the committee, applicant Kate Fitzgerald said: “It has been designed to respect the local area.”

Planning committee member, Councillor Mike Gledhill, said: “I would have liked to have kept the valley clear of development.

“However, the inspector gave approval and there is a mix of houses.”

Councillor Ben Emery said he was pleased with the proposals: “I am pleased to see this excellent development. Thirty three per cent will be affordable and Leek Town Council do not object. It will not impact on the views to Leek town centre and there is a community park, cycle route, walks and planting.”

Planning committee members voted unanimously to approve the application.

Milltown Way, Leek