Land At Mile Oak Sutton Road Mile Oak Tamworth Staffordshire

1. 1.The proposed development constitutes inappropriate development within the Green Belt. Policy GB6 of the National Planning Policy Framework states that inappropriate development is, by definition, harmful to the Green Belt and should not be approved except in very special circumstances, and that substantial weight should be given to any harm to the Green Belt, including harm to its openness. The proposal does not fall within the exception provided by Policy GB7(g) of the NPPF, as the application site is considered to make a strong contribution to Green Belt Purpose (a), checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas, and therefore does not constitute grey belt land. In addition to the harm by reason of inappropriateness, the development of up to 250 dwellings and associated infrastructure would result in a substantial loss of openness and encroachment of built development into the countryside. The benefits of the proposal, including housing delivery and affordable housing provision, do not clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt and the other identified harm, and very special circumstances have not been demonstrated. The proposal is consequently contrary to Policy NR2 (Development in the Green Belt) of the Lichfield District Local Plan Strategy and Policies GB2, GB6 and GB7 of the National Planning Policy Framework.
2. 2.26/00249/OUTM 2 Insufficient information has been provided to demonstrate that the proposed development would avoid or adequately mitigate impacts upon Great Crested Newts, a European Protected Species. The application relies upon a non-licensed method statement. However, NatureSpace has advised that this approach is not appropriate given the scale of the development, the proximity of confirmed GCN records and ponds, and the potential for both direct and indirect impacts. Whilst the applicant has indicated that a licence would be secured prior to development if required, no satisfactory mitigation strategy or sufficient supporting information has been provided to demonstrate how the likely impacts upon Great Crested Newts would be addressed, or that the relevant protected species licensing requirements could be satisfied. The Local Planning Authority is therefore unable to conclude that the impacts upon Great Crested Newts can be satisfactorily mitigated or compensated. The proposal is consequently contrary to Policies CP3 (Delivering Sustainable Development), CP13 (Our Natural Resources) and NR3 (Biodiversity, Protected Species and their Habitats) of the Lichfield District Local Plan Strategy, the Biodiversity and Development SPD and the relevant provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework relating to biodiversity and protected species.
3. 3.In the absence of a completed Section 106 legal agreement to secure the necessary education contributions arising from the proposed development, the proposal fails to make adequate provision to mitigate its impact upon local education infrastructure. The contributions are necessary to accommodate the additional demand for primary and secondary school places generated by the development and to ensure that the proposal would not place unacceptable pressure upon existing education provision. The proposal is consequently contrary to Policy CP4 (Delivering our Infrastructure) and Policy IP1 (Supporting and Providing our Infrastructure) of the Lichfield District Local Plan Strategy (2015), the Developer Contributions SPD and the relevant provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework.

From the council's decision notice.

Application type

Outline Application (Major)

Scale / size

Large

Number of dwellings

250

Parish

Fazeley

Date validated

2 March 2026

Consultation expiry

10 April 2026

Consultation start

4 March 2026

Consultation end

19 November 2026

Last date for comments

10 April 2026

Target decision date

31 October 2026

Agent address

Define Planning & Design Ltd Unit 6 133-137 Newhall Street Birmingham B3 1SF

Statutory period

91 days

Last advertised

19 March 2026

Advertisement expiry

9 April 2026

Site notice start

20 March 2026

Site notice end

10 April 2026

Documents

98

Constraints

6