Plans for 128 homes near Market Drayton thrown out

Councillors rejected the scheme to build the homes on the site of Tadgedale Quarry in Loggerheads, near Market Drayton, after raising fears the development wouldn't be sustainable.

The decision was made by members of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council at a meeting on Tuesday. They went against the advice of the council's planning officers to turn down the plans.

The proposals by Renew Land Developments for the site off Eccleshall Road had been recommended for approval despite nearly 40 objections from members of the public, claiming the homes would impact on already over-stretched services.

Loggerheads Parish Council, which has welcomed this week's decision, also voted to object to the plans.

A statement on behalf of the parish council said: "At the planning committee the application for new homes on Tadgedale Quarry, that was formerly a tip and closed due to contamination, was refused following a vote.

"Thanks go to resident Adam Hamdy, founder of Loggerheads Residents Action Group, and local borough councillors David Loades and Paul Northcott for their support in getting this application refused.

"The site is considered incapable of being delivered as a housing development due to the very high costs of chemical remediation and specialist foundations to deal with the substantial amounts of tipped materials.

"There have been five major developments in Loggerheads in the recent past producing approximately 540 new houses. There are regularly upwards of 100 properties for sale within two miles of the centre of Loggerheads.

"The housing market in Loggerheads is being satisfied by existing stock. The whole of the foul drainage system in Loggerheads south of the A53 needs an overhaul."

Members of the council's planning committee carried out a site visit before they made a final decision.

The scheme would have involved building a mix of two, three and four-bed houses.

A report to the council said the plans had been backed by officers on the condition that a £513,923 contribution was made towards education provision, 25 per cent of the homes were affordable and a contribution of £6,300 would have been put towards travel plan monitoring.