Residents have given a mixed response to plans to earmark brownfield land and fields for hundreds of homes.

The 47 hectare site off Redhills Road, between Birches Head and Milton, is set to be allocated 747 homes in Stoke-on-Trent City Council's new local plan.

While site H39 is designated as brownfield in the plan, it includes green fields and wooded areas as well as previously developed land such as the former Hanbury Plastics Recycling site.

The sprawling and varied site also includes a stretch of the River Trent, and Abbey Hulton United FC's home ground – the local plan notes that any development would need to consider the retention or reprovision of sports pitches.

Local residents who attended a local plan consultation event in Birches Head welcomed the vacant brownfield land in the area being brought back into use.

But there was opposition to building homes on the greener parts of the site, while concerns were also raised about the impact on already congested roads.

Leek Road resident John Holmes said: "The traffic on Leek Road is already horrendous, and there are pinch points all over the area. Most houses these days have two cars so that's going to mean even more traffic on the roads around here. It's also going to put pressure on services like the doctors and schools.

"It would be good to see the brownfield land developed. If they built homes on that land it would stop the problems with anti-social behaviour there. But they shouldn't be building on other parts of the site."

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James Robertson and Shannon Gavin recently bought a house in Birches Head, just next to part of site H39, which they do not want to see developed.

Shannon said: "Part of the reason why we moved here is because its next to a field with horses. If we'd known they were planning to build homes there we probably wouldn't have bought it.

"They should be doing something with Redhills Road because it's not fit for purpose at the moment. But I don't think they should be building so many homes here. This isn't the centre of the city."

Baddeley, Milton and Norton ward councillor Dave Evans recently called for the council to resurrect plans to widen a section of Milton Road to support the development of the Redhills Road site.

Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for regeneration, gave assurances that any development on the Redhills Road site would be contingent on a 'proper access strategy'.

The city council's local plan will guide all development in the city up to 2040. It includes site allocations for meeting the government-set housebuilding target of 952 homes a year.

People can have their say on the local plan by visiting the council website, emailing [email protected], or writing to Planning policy team, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Civic Centre, Glebe Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1HH. The consultation runs until 14 September