Plans to convert land at a North Staffordshire golf course into houses have been rejected by planners after concerns were raised over sustainability and road safety.

The plans which would have seen the overflow car park at Whiston Hall Golf Club turned into six houses have been rejected by planning officers at Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. 

Kingsley Parish Council along with 18 others objected to the development, with only one supporting it citing 'new revenue into the local community'

The planning officers report into the development is critical. It mentions the adverse impacts of the development 'demonstrably outweigh' potential benefits and is critical over the lack of information provided.

The report states: "The application fails to demonstrate how or to what extent the site constraints can be accommodated. 

"Whilst it might have been open to the LPA to support a lesser scheme of fewer houses if development had been found acceptable in principle – which it is not – the absence of information on the footpath(s); trees; wildlife – not even a basic biological assessment provided; existing on-site electricity supply apparatus and means to accommodate existing overflow parking all mean it is not possible to derive a suitable figure. 

Whiston 'cannot be considered as a sustainable location' according to a council report (Google).

"Finally as noted in the report Whiston cannot be considered a sustainable location and the scheme should also be refused on this count. 

"Whilst the Council cannot currently demonstrate a full housing supply for the District the adverse impacts of the development identified in the report would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of the new housing, when assessed against the policies in the National Planning Framework taken as a whole."

The report also details how the statutory publicity requirements were not met by the developer. In addition, public footpaths which run through the site were not considered in the application.

A similar application was made in 2021, however was later withdrawn from consideration but was due to be discussed at a formal planning meeting.

The refusal notice gives the reasons why the application was not granted. It states that the development is "not limited infill residential development of an appropriate scale and character and it does not relate well to the existing pattern of development of the village

"The proposal fails to demonstrate how a series of identifiable site constraints can be accommodated within the proposed development site.

"Insufficient information accompanies the application to enable a full and proper evaluation of the ecological impacts of the development"

READ MORE: Nine-year-old wins 'journeys through Stoke' creative writing competition

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stoke Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our city.

Please consider following Stoke Nub News on Facebook or Twitter.