Shropshire Star

Village near Market Drayton 'could not cope' with new homes

A village would not be able to cope with up to 60 planned new homes, concerned residents have claimed.

Published

A proposal submitted to build the homes on land off Market Drayton Road in Loggerheads has sparked concerns they would put too much pressure on existing infrastructure and services.

Planning permission is being sought to create a mix of semi-detached and detached properties.

Twenty-five per cent of the proposed homes will be affordable.

Some 60 per cent of the affordable properties would be social rented and 40 per cent shared ownership.

The homes would be built on a greenfield site near to the community fire station.

But resident Phil Daley said: "We have concerns over loss of privacy and light, and over highway safety and parking.

"We have concerns that there are currently several other major housing developments currently at the planning stage within the area.

"If they were all to go ahead the existing infrastructure within Loggerheads with regarding schools, GP access, drainage, sewers, utility supplies, etc, would not be able to cope."

Resident Trevor Greenwood added: "The local shops are already over used .The shelves are empty by midday Saturday.

"The location of the entry and exit of the proposed development is at a particularly dangerous point on the A53."

Loggerheads Parish Council has objected to the proposed housing suggested for the development.

Meanwhile, the Loggerheads Development Residents Forum said the land has been earmarked in the neighbourhood plan for a community centre and health facilities.

A statement on behalf of the applicant, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said: "The vision for the Market Drayton Road site is the development of a contextually sensitive, high quality development of up to 60 residential dwellings.

"The proposed development will see the creation of a positive interface between the rural and built environments.

"Situated at the village boundary, the site is well positioned to benefit from views over the green belt as well as the short walking distance to a range of village amenities."

People can comment on the application as part of consultation into the scheme by visiting the Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council website.

Earlier this year plans for 128 homes on the site of a former quarry in the village were approved by a Government planning inspector.

Developers had lodged a second bid to gain planning permission for the homes on the site of Tadgedale Quarry but were turned down by members of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council due to fears were raised the development would not be sustainable.

Last year, the council submitted a different planning application to create up to 55 houses on land off Eccleshall Road in Loggerheads.

The homes would be built on a greenfield site currently used for agricultural grazing.

The council said the homes would support the shops and public services that exist in the village.

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