UPDATES

December 2021

GOOD NEWS! The second planning application for a building project, for a dwelling in a 1.2 Acre Field off Stubwood Lane Denstone Staffordshire, again outside of the agreed settlement area (application reference P/2021/01160) has been refused.

Public access to the three main ESBC documents relating to this decision is available by clicking here.

Interestingly, the two main reasons ESBC have given for refusal in their ‘Refusal Reasons Page for Planning Application – P/2021/01160’ are:

Reasons 1

The site is situated in an unsustainable location outside any settlement boundaries as defined in the East Staffordshire Local Plan with no immediate local facilities which would necessitate the use of private motor vehicles as the predominent mode of transport. The proposed development would also result in new residential built form and associated domestic paraphanalia which would be prominent in this location to the visual detriment of this countryside locality. Consequently the proposed dwelling would constitute an intrusive, unnecessary and unsustainable form of development in the countryside contrary to Policies SP1, SP8, SP16, SP24 and DP1 of the Local Plan, Policies DP1 and SB1 of the Denstone Neighbourhood Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework.

Reasons 2

The proposed development of the application site for a new dwelling would increase vehicular movements in the locality which would exacerbate the risk of conflict on the public highway between vehicles and between vehicles and pedestrians and cyclists by reason of the lack of segregated pedestrian facilities and street lighting on comparatively narrow roads subject to the national speed limit, leading to an increase in the likelihood of danger to highway users. The proposed development scheme would therefore be contrary to Policies SP1 and SP35 of the East Staffordshire Local Plan and the aims of the National Planning Policy Framework.

As a group, we do feel strongly that some of the exact same reasons for refusal here should have held much more weight with ESBC for the initial application that we are now fighting via the judicial review process.

November 2021

• The flooding mitigation information was submitted by the applicant on time and we are awaiting a decision notice being issued which we expect any day.
• As soon as the decision notice is issued, our barrister and solicitor are aligned ready to start the process.
• Further to village information sessions we have now raised over £15,000 exclusively from our local residents.
• DMCG are embarking on an events calendar to help support further fundraising. (link to events page). We are looking forward to some fantastic events and for the wider community to get together.

Interesting to note:

• As stated at the information meeting, we knew other applications were being prepared for building outside of the settlement boundary. We have now had the first ‘dipping the toe’ application already submitted – P/2021/01160  This is just the beginning!

September 2021

Village Information Meetings

• Three meetings held by Denstone Parish Council were very well attended by villagers who were outraged that ESBC were brushing their views aside and discounting the legal document of our Neighbourhood Plan.
• Denstone Matters Community Group (DMCG) was formed to help raise awareness and funds with all members volunteering their time to support this cause.