Plans for 43 new homes in North Staffordshire have been given the green light – but concerns have been raised about a lack of affordable properties in the development.

The application for land off Lamphouse Way, Wolstanton had been recommended for approval by planning officers at Newcastle Borough Council subject to 25% of the development being affordable housing and a financial contribution of £5,579 per property towards off-site public open space improvements.

But the applicant Markden Homes told council these requirements would make the development unviable, a report to Tuesday's planning committee said. The recommendation was amended to remove the condition.

Wolstanton councillor Philip Reece spoke out about the amended conditions.

He said: "The first report sounded optimistic regarding the applicant entering into a Section 106 obligation to secure 25% affordable housing and a financial contribution just shy of £240,000 for off-site public space.

"I was hugely disappointed to see the subsequent report to this committee whereby the applicant wants the Section 106 obligations set aside, otherwise it would render the scheme unviable. We desperately need affordable housing in Wolstanton and across the borough.

"I've got several concerns that have been raised by residents around Lamphouse Way. At times – and particularly at peak times – it is really congested there.

"It can be an absolute nightmare getting off Lamphouse Way. It's difficult to see how this won't have a significant impact for residents and on highway safety."

Concerns were raised about the lack of affordable housing and the increase of traffic and congestion in the area (Google).

The county's highway authority has raised no objection to the proposal, subject to a number of conditions, a report to the committee said. Committee members voted to approve the application after hearing that a previous outline application for 64 homes on the site had been allowed.

Councillor Richard Gorton said: "I'm not quite as sanguine as the highway authority about highway safety. The proposed development can only be accessed from Lamphouse Way, which is a narrow road where on-road parking happens quite frequently.

"With the development we could see an additional 70-80 vehicles. And I think that is going to add to safety and congestion problems down there.

"There are two features about the application I particularly welcome. One is the number of dwellings to be constructed is now 43 and the earlier application wanted 64, the other was that the substation is to be moved.

"I think locally there is recognition that the site would eventually be developed for housing. The application before the committee this evening is a good deal better than the one I saw sight of at the start of the year."

Councillor Andrew Fear said: "I think we've all got to bear in mind that permission has been given on this site for a larger development. It would be very difficult for us to demonstrate that conditions have changed to such a degree that no development can take place there at all.

"The highways authority will be regarded as the expert witness in this case and we don't have, to the best of my knowledge, any firm evidence we could place against their opinions were this to come to appeal. We also have to bear in mind that the development will help us fill what is perceived, rightly or wrongly, a lack of housing at this juncture.

"I too am disappointed about the issues of s106 and suchlike. But I think we would be in a very awkward position were we to resist this."

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