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What We Respond To
A greenfield site in Stafford that was refused planning permission
Whilst we consider all applications on a case-by-case basis, this is a general outline of our approach to deciding what constitutes an application of concern.
Click here to read some of our previous responses to planning applications.
What we support
- A brownfield first policy
Brownfield land holds potential space for a huge amount of housing. Building on brownfield land directly reduces the amount of countryside that’s lost to development. It’s estimated that there’s enough suitable brownfield land available in England for more than 1 million homes. In Staffordshire, we have supported several developments on brownfield land, such as the conversion of the former Abbots Bromley School for housing. - Truly affordable housing and social housing
Too often homes referred to as ‘affordable’ are anything but. - Rooftop solar: A major new CPRE report has found that over half the solar panels needed to hit national net zero targets could be fitted on rooftops and in car parks.
What we oppose
- Green Belt development: Our Green Belts are the countryside next door for millions of people, and by protecting and enhancing these green spaces around our towns and cities we can address multiple environmental crises at once, leaving space for farming, climate mitigation, wildlife, and access to nature. Read our position statement on the Green Belt.
- Development in the open countryside, if the site has not been allocated in the Local Plan.
We’re also concerned about the number of very large-scale solar farms which are being planned in Staffordshire, as shown in our interactive map. Their construction would result in the industrialisation of the countryside and the loss of valuable agricultural land.
