Passive House Plus dwelling at Drointon Lane, Stowe-by-Chartley, Stafford

What was proposed

The application proposed a one-and-a-half-storey contemporary dwelling designed to Passive House Plus standards, with a new access and hedgerow works.

“25/41286/FUL - 1 Application: 25/41286/FUL Case Officer: Hannah Cross Target Decision Date: 2 January 2026 Extended To: 30 April 2026 Address: Land Adjacent to Acorn Cottage, Drointon Lane, Stowe By Chartley Proposal: Erection of Passive House Plus dwelling and associated works Recommendation: Approve, subject to conditions…”

“25/41286/FUL - 2 2.0 Proposed development 2.1 The application seeks permission for the erection of a one and a half storey dwelling of contemporary architectural design, specifically designed and to be) constructed to Passive House Plus standards. The proposal requires the removal and replanting of the hedgerow to the front of the site, with a gap provided in the new hedgerow to allow for a new vehicular access off Drointon Lane.”

Officer report

Main planning issues

The proposal conflicted with the spatial strategy and was in an unsustainable location, but housing delivery and the innovative design carried weight in the planning balance.

“Housing land supply and the ‘tilted balance’ 3.4 Stafford Borough does not currently have a 5-year housing land supply and policies in The Plan for Stafford Borough (TPSB) which relate to the supply of new market housing are more than 5 years old.”

“The Council’s Planning Policy Manager has advised that the policy position is not to support the proposal on the basis that the dwelling is contrary to the Council’s spatial strategy. Nonetheless, it is acknowledged within the response that Stafford Borough cannot currently demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply, and therefore this should be considered alongside other material considerations to be taken into account in the overall planning balance.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A speaker addressed the committee against the proposal, another supported it, and Councillor F Beatty addressed the committee as ward member.

The votes

Members carried both the additional condition and the proposal to approve the application.

“On being put to the vote inclusion of the extra condition was declared to be carried. Councillor S N Spencer subsequently moved and Councillor A McNaughton seconded that the application be approved, subject to the conditions as set out in the report and the above additional condition. On being put to the vote the proposal to approve the application was declared to be carried.”

Minutes