A proposal to build new homes on green belt land in North Staffordshire has sparked dozens of objections.

Permission in principle is being sought for up to nine houses on land between Rudyard Road and Hot Lane in Biddulph Moor.

The 0.49 hectare (1.21 acre) site is currently used as grazing land and it is located opposite Biddulph Moor Village Hall.

The land was previously included as a draft allocation for Staffordshire Moorlands District Council's current Local Plan, a supporting document submitted as part of the planning application said.

But the village hall trustees are among the 50 objectors who have written to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council to voice concerns about the proposal.

Hall trustees said in their objection letter: "The current residents living in close proximity to the village hall have chosen to live there with full knowledge of its presence and its regular activities.

"The introduction of new residential properties immediately adjacent to the village hall raises a very real concern that future occupants, unfamiliar with the nature and scale of village hall operations, may object to noise levels, event timings, traffic, and parking pressures.

"This could lead to complaints being made to the local authority and pressure being placed on the village hall to restrict or curtail its activities.

advertisement

"Hundreds of residents rely on the hall for social interaction, recreation, and community cohesion, and many local groups and small businesses depend on events held there

"Any threat to its continued operation would be strongly opposed by the village as a whole and would represent a significant loss to community life in Biddulph Moor."

Biddulph Town Council members have recommended the application should be refused permission after raising "grave concerns about infringement of the Green Belt".

They added: "There is currently no grey belt policy in Staffordshire Moorlands, so (it) should be refused on these grounds."

Rudyard Road resident Darren Swindells said: "Hot Lane to the north is an extremely narrow rural lane, entirely unsuitable for the increased traffic volume associated with nine new households and their visitors.

"While Rudyard Road is wider, it has a history of serious traffic incidents, including a near-fatal collision between a motorcycle and a car in recent years – adding a new junction and significant additional vehicle movements here creates an unacceptable risk to road safety."

Fellow Rudyard Road resident Helena White said: "The current infrastructure of the village does not support further housing. I have been informed that the sewage system serving the village is already at capacity.

"The village has very limited public transport options so it would also add more cars in the village – there are already road safety issues, including specifically Rudyard Road and Hot Lane that have been reported to the council and police.

advertisement

"Village facilities are limited – no GP, dentist, supermarket, leisure facilities (or) secondary school."