What’s new: Planning officers have recommended approval for 33 additional homes off Bar Hill in Madeley, adjoining a previously approved development of 155 properties.
By the numbers: The combined development would contain 188 homes, exceeding the 150 allocated in the local plan. Eight of the additional homes would be affordable.
Why it matters: Madeley Parish Council has objected over the number of properties, green space provision and a lack of community engagement.
What’s next: Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council's planning committee is due to consider the application on Tuesday 10 November.
This article is based on reporting from the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), a BBC funded initiative set up to strengthen reporting on local democratic issues. The Staffordshire Signal has taken part in the scheme since September 2026, which means we're able to draw on a selection of LDRS stories alongside our own.
Another 33 homes are set to be built as part of a greenfield housing development outside a North Staffordshire village.
Owl Homes Limited secured planning permission to build 155 houses in a field off Bar Hill, Madeley in August of this year.
The company is now seeking permission for a further 33 homes on adjoining land.
Planning officers at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council have recommended the latest application for approval.
The wider site for both applications has been earmarked for 150 homes in the council’s new local plan.
Officers say the latest plans align with policy and represent good quality design.
The officers’ report states:
“The application site is allocated for housing within the council’s adopted local plan and is considered to be a sustainable location for new residential development. The proposed development also represents a good quality design and there would be no significant harm to the visual amenity of the area, including views from the wider landscape.
“All technical issues have been addressed and there are no outstanding objections from statutory consultees.”
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The development would be made up of a mix of two, three and four-bedroom properties.
Eight of the homes will be classed as affordable, which is below the 30 per cent minimum required by policy.
But officers say that this is acceptable as 49 per cent of the homes across the wider development will be affordable.
Access to the development would be via a new junction on Bar Hill, which would involve the demolition of an existing house.
Madeley Parish Council has objected to the application, pointing out that the total number of homes would be 188, well above the allocation of 150 in the local plan.
In its objection, the parish council states:
“This application does not include any provision for open green space. If the intention is to rely on the green space provided within the adjacent development of 155 dwellings then this would substantially change the calculations relied upon for the green space provision within that development.
“There are also serious concerns regarding the lack of community engagement by the developer.”
Planning committee members will consider the application when they meet on Tuesday.
Written by Phil Corrigan, Local Democracy Reporter.
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