ECCLESHALL PARISH COUNCIL – PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES

June 4^th 2025

A meeting of Eccleshall Parish Council Planning Committee was held on June 4^th 2025, at Eccleshall Community Centre at 7.30pm.

 119/25).   Present were: –

Councillor B. Delanchy (Chairman)          Councillor G. Dale

Councillor R. Langford                                Councillor M. Gosling

Councillor D. Hall                                         Councillor D. Hill

Councillor A. Reid                                       Councillor S. Mifflin

Councillor P. Jones                                     Councillor D. Feneysey

Councillor C. Wilkins                                   Councillor S. Kean

Mrs Stacey Worden (Clerk)

One member of the public

Two representatives from Turley and Taylor Wimpey

 120/25).   Apologies

Apologies were received from Cllrs. Perren, Taylor and Ryan-Bloor.

 121/25).  Declarations of Interest and Councillor requests for dispensation relating to items on the agenda:

There were no requests to receive, and no declarations of interest were made.

 122/25).  Public Participation

A member of the public spoke to request support in objecting to planning application 24/39044/FUL. The application requests removal of the condition that requires one of the commercial units to keep the door closed during hours of work to reduce noise impact on neighbouring properties. The resident advised that although a noise assessment report states the levels of noise are in line with nearby road traffic noise, this does not account for periods of exhaust testing, when levels are significantly higher. The resident also advised that the request for siting of long term noise monitoring equipment has not been actioned.

 123/25).  To approve the minutes of the Planning Committee held on 21^st May 2025

The minutes, which had been previously circulated, were agreed and signed.

 124/25).  Presentation by representatives from Turley and Taylor Wimpey in relation to a proposal for new homes off Shaws Lane, adjacent to Overton Manor

In attendance was one representative from Turley (planning consultants) and one representative for  Taylor Wimpey.

The council listened to a brief presentation outlining the proposal to submit a planning application for up to 150 homes plus a 4.73 hectare landscaped public park, adjacent to Overton Manor, off Shaws Lane. Key points of the presentation included:

• The public park element will be the part of the site located within the conservation area, nearest to the High Street, and incorporate a play park, different habitat areas, and as a result of consultation with Holy Trinity Church, a remembrance garden. The size of the park is the equivalent of six football pitches. Trees with existing TPO’s will be retained.
• Site access will be from Shaws Lane, with plans to increase the road width from the school up to the main entrance to encourage vehicles to use it as the primary route in and out.
• There will be a range of high quality, energy efficient home types, including 40% affordable housing. The plan will contain new cycling and walking routes.
• SUDS (sustainable drainage systems) for flooding control will consist of retention ponds adjacent to Shaws Lane, which may help with current flooding experienced by neighbouring properties.
• There will be a public consultation between 10^th June and the 1^st July with a leaflet drop in the west of the town, providing a link to a website and feedback form. An in-person drop in will be held at Holy Trinity Church on 19^th
• Build rate would be approximately fifty dwellings a year, plus six months for infrastructure work, with a rough estimate of total build time of 3-4 years.
• Due to the volume of green space planned, there may be provision to hand ownership over to a specialist company such as the Land Trust. How the ongoing maintenance will be financed is still under consideration.

Points raised by councillors included:

• Traffic volume will still increase on nearby Kerry Lane as a route to avoid the High Street for those leaving the development in that direction. This route is very narrow and unsuitable for any increase in traffic. Shaws Lane is a popular walking route and where the road is not widened, will be dangerous to pedestrians.
• Car parking is an ongoing problem in Eccleshall, and parking provision will be essential for visitors to the park.
• There is very low public transport provision for residents. This was acknowledged by Taylor Wimpey who are actively looking into this as they support accessibility for public transport links.
• Sewage network problems/lack of capacity. Taylor Wimpey have submitted an enquiry to Severn Trent who have advised a pumping station can direct sewage to the north, where capacity has been identified.
• Whether the current water supply is adequate (Taylor Wimpey will check with consultant).
• The increasing elderly population would benefit from supply of bungalows. This was noted by Taylor Wimpey, but advised they are guided by Stafford Borough Council’s planning policy on housing needs.
• Members again voiced concerns that the volume of proposed planning applications, for over one thousand houses in total, will significantly change the landscape to the detriment of Eccleshall and its current accolade as a popular place to live.
• Other infrastructure capacities have not been considered, including how the wider highways network will accommodate the increased traffic volumes.

(Taylor Wimpey/Turley representatives left at this point in the meeting).

 125/25).  Planning Decisions of Stafford Borough Council:

25/40382/HOU– Single storey rear extension. 21 Trinity Road Eccleshall. Approved.

25/40321/FUL – Demolition of an existing dwelling and replacement with a new Self-Build House. Rosemarie Cottage Aspley Lane Chatcull. Approved.

25/40629/LDCPP – Lawful development certificate proposed single storey side extension and two storey rear extension. Ivy Cottage Cash Lane Garmelow. Allowed.

25/40560/NOTH – Install one span of overhead conductor and install one pole. Spinneys Church Street Eccleshall. Permitted Development.

25/40286/FUL – Installation of 2.4m high replacement fencing required to protect an existing cross-country valve. Land Opposite Sports Ground Swynnerton Road Sturbridge. Approved.

  126/25)  Planning Applications for consideration:-

25/40413/FUL – Retrospective demolition of existing office block and erection of new office block. Morgan Sindall Ltd Adjacent Units 2 And 3 Cold Meece Estate Cold Meece Road Cold Meece Stone Staffordshire ST15 0UD.

There were no objections to this application.

  127/25). To consider any further applications:-

24/39044/FUL – Variation of condition five on application 23/37150/FUL (retrospective). Amended Application. Walton Bank Stafford Road Walton Eccleshall. It was resolved to continue to object to this application. It was also agreed to request for noise monitoring equipment to be installed on site for a more comprehensive, longer term set of data for review, and for details of the noise management plan to be supplied.

  128/25).   Any Other Planning Matters: –

• Updated document on infrastructure issues and required improvements, aspirational aims and other considerations for Eccleshall:

The working document was circulated to all members and any additional suggestions for inclusion to be sent to the Clerk. It was noted that the document will require a review to identify and prioritise the key points to be submitted as part of the responses to upcoming planning applications.

  129/25).   Correspondence:-

• Correspondence from Muller Homes was received in relation to their request to attend a meeting to present plans to submit planning applications on Land to the South of Shaws Lane, Land to the South of Langton Park and land to the North of the Burgage. Representatives will be invited to the Planning Committee meeting to be held on the 16^th July at Broughton Parish Room, after the main council meeting.

  130/25).   Accounts for payment:-

Authorisation was sought for payment of the following accounts:-

All were in favour and the accounts will be paid accordingly. Cllrs. Jones and Reid will process the approvals online.

 131/25).    Date and venue for next meeting:

Wednesday 18^th June 2025, at Eccleshall Community Centre, following a meeting of the Parish Council.

There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 8.30pm.