Councillors defy advice to say no to 75 homes in Stockton
A housing plan for a Warwickshire village that attracted more objections than the number of homes it proposed has been rejected by councillors.
After a marathon two-hour debate, Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s planning committee – the panel of elected officials tasked with taking the decision – went against the advice of planning professionals and said no to a 75-home proposal for farmland to the south of Sycamore Close, Stockton, near Southam.
Similar proposals were rejected by the council in 2014.
The plans would have seen the agricultural field developed directly opposite the Cemex National Technical Centre where minerals are excavated from.
Cemex was among 136 objectors, arguing the housing would “potentially sterilise mineral of national importance that might be required at some future point”, while residents questioned whether local amenities and narrow country access roads – some without footpaths – would cope, sewer capacity and flood risk and the development of “best and most versatile” agricultural land
Planning agent Tom Armfield highlighted that 35 per cent of the homes would be reserved for affordable housing – available at 20 per cent or more below market rate – and that local policies no longer matched new national planning guidance, particularly with the district unable to demonstrate it has enough land allocated to meet new, inflated housing targets.
“We recognise that the council’s housing supply difficulties are not of its own making but the messaging from government is clear, every (planning authority) has a responsibility to significantly boost the supply of new homes, both market and affordable,” he said.
However, ward member Councillor Andy Crump (Southam East, Central & Stockton) argued the agent was offering a “rose tinted view” before listing a host of practical concerns.
Citing that Stockton is expected to accept “modest controlled growth” due to its rural nature and limited amenities, he said these plans would amount to 13 per cent growth of the village’s housing stock.
“If we were to (apply) a 13 per cent increase to Alcester, which has far more facilities, that would equate to 350 houses," he continued.
“In the South Warwickshire Local Plan, Alcester is getting 375 houses over 20-or-so years.
"That is controlled, it is being done gradually.
“Stockton is being treated differently.
"It is getting it all in one go and it doesn’t have the infrastructure, the town centre.”
He said data suggests up to 164,000 extra vehicle trips per year could be generated, adding pressure to the “one of the most dangerous” accident hotspots in the county, Stockton crossroads.
“The damage will outweigh the benefits of 75 houses towards increasing the housing land supply, this is not the right place,” he concluded.
Councillor Peter Hencher-Serafin (Lib Dem, Studley North) said objectors “put over quite a good case”.
“This application for so many houses is in the wrong place, there is a lack of infrastructure and it uses up good quality agricultural land which is vital today,” he said.
“The number of houses is vastly too much. Bussing children to another school is not right, it will create a lot more journeys on narrow roads.”
Councillor Anne Parry (Con, Wellesbourne North & Rural): “While we don’t have a five-year land supply, that doesn’t mean we have to rubber stamp every development that comes in front of us.”
She conveyed “major concerns” including scale and size, stating she might have been able to “live more” with a plan for around 20 homes, plus the impact on the character of the landscape and a lack of local infrastructure.
“It is great that there is a huge sum of money but there isn’t room to build an extension to the primary school,” she noted.
“To me it is the cumulative impact of all these little bits that comprise significant harm.”
All 10 councillors who heard the application voted against it based on visual amenity and landscape harm, the significant loss of agricultural land and impact on local amenities.
Councillor Louis Adam (Lib Dem, Southam North & Long Itchington) sat out the application because he represents the neighbouring ward, grew up in Stockton and has family and friends still living there.