Plans to demolish South Staffordshire College back on the table

Planners want to level the site to make way for new housing

Author: Jonathan Sutton, Local Democracy Reporting ServicePublished 6th Aug 2024
Last updated 6th Aug 2024

Plans to demolish South Staffordshire College are back on the table after being deferred by councillors over significant highway concerns.

The plans include the demolition of all six buildings, at the site, off Croft Street, to make way for a future housing development on the land.

Planning officers at Tamworth Borough Council have once again approved of the scheme which would mean the demolition once South Staffordshire College completed the move to a new campus. A planning application has been submitted for 123 new homes on the site which could have 20 per cent affordable housing and an 80-bed care home.

The application received no objections from statutory consultees, however three letters of objection were submitted over traffic concerns. However the Highways at Staffordshire County Council raised no objections subject to conditions.

One of the key concerns for councillors in the June meeting was the amount of demolition and debris near the railway line and damage to highways from the demolition trucks. Despite a motion proposed to refuse the application following legal advice the motion was changed to defer.

The latest report to councillors says there have been no fundamental changes to the application since June. Further information has been provided by Staffordshire County Council highways, however, they have not changed their recommendation.

It states: “There have been no additional submissions made since the consideration of the application at the June committee but a revised consultation response has been received from Staffordshire County Council highways. This provides additional information including that the scope of works includes general site clearance and removal of asbestos containing materials followed by the demolition of buildings on the college site.

“It also confirmed that initial information was submitted which lacked details. After further discussions with the applicant the following information was submitted relating to the likely traffic movement during the demolition phase.

“There are no further updates and the application remains to approve in line with the considerations outlined in the report of the committee of 5th June 2024.”

The planning committee at Tamworth Borough Council will deliberate on the application on 6th August, 2024 6pm at the Town Hall.

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