Our annual Christmas Post is a belated one this year. Sorry about that! The thing is we started to write something a while back but it turned out to be more of a reflection on the 10 years of slow progress on the site that has become Dragon Court and ended up getting a bit sombre and not a little depressing.
Christmas, of course, should be a time of celebration and good cheer so we'll leave our dark-ish reflections for another post.
Once again, though, we note that the building work that started in July 2015 still isn't finished (just how long does it take to build seven houses?) and we cannot yet hang up our computer keyboard. Wait! We're getting sombre again! Let's leave it at that for now and we'll be back again before too long.
All the very best to one and all for Christmas.
Sunday 23 December 2018
Wednesday 17 January 2018
Happy New Year
A somewhat belated Happy New Year to everyone. We've now received a response from Stafford Borough Council regarding our query about compliance with the landscape & planting scheme and the investigation we mentioned in our last post.
They have concluded that there is little point in enforcing the implementation of the planting scheme until all the building work has been completed. This makes sense as there will be on-going construction activity until the last house has been built and this would be incompatible with tree planting and associated landscaping work.
Quite when this will be is, however, another matter. We've haven't seen any external work taking place since well before Christmas and there is still the best part of another house to complete. (The weather, of course, hasn't helped). Chance yet for one more Christmas Post on the Blog?
They have concluded that there is little point in enforcing the implementation of the planting scheme until all the building work has been completed. This makes sense as there will be on-going construction activity until the last house has been built and this would be incompatible with tree planting and associated landscaping work.
Quite when this will be is, however, another matter. We've haven't seen any external work taking place since well before Christmas and there is still the best part of another house to complete. (The weather, of course, hasn't helped). Chance yet for one more Christmas Post on the Blog?
Thursday 7 December 2017
The Christmas Post
With the Big Day getting ever nearer we've been mulling over what to say in our annual Christmas post. As regular readers will know, we discontinued our greetings card idea a while back because we thought it was time to embrace reality and move on. The "last post" approach tickled our fancy again but we've used that too many times and they invariably turned out not to be the "last post" at all.
This year, however, there is some news to pass on. Many readers will no doubt have forgotten all about the conditions of the planning permission granted in 2010, nearly seven long years ago to the day. One of the conditions requires the owners to implement the landscaping and planting scheme which they themselves submitted in support of their planning application. And this very same landscaping and planting scheme clearly shows a number of trees and shrubs being planted throughout the site and, in particular, along the boundary with Stone Road.
The planning permission requires the owners to implement the scheme within eight months of the development being put into use. Now, we're not sure whether this means when the first residents move in or when all the development activity has been completed so we got in touch with the Borough Council to find out.
What they said in their (very quick) reply came as a bit of a surprise. They are now investigating to establish if there has been a breach of planning permission on the site. (On second thoughts, given the history of the whole thing, perhaps it isn't that much of a surprise after all). We'll post full details about the possible breach as soon as we find out. And, of course, if you know what's going on, do let us know.
One thing that we have noticed about the site is that a fence has been erected on plot 1 along the Stone Road side. Strangely enough, it runs exactly along the line where trees are supposed to be planted. Whether the good residents of plot 1 know about this, we can't say. We'd have thought that their solicitors would have brought the conditions of the planning permission to their attention before they bought the property. There again ... you never know.
We've been hearing loads of stories about the goings-on of this development for some time now: unoccupied properties being broken into, bricks being stolen, bills not being paid, court hearings and now a breach of planning legislation. We thought that once the building work had started back in 2015 that would be the end of the matter and we could all get on with our lives. Some hope.
And oh yes, we nearly forgot. Merry Christmas to one and all!
This year, however, there is some news to pass on. Many readers will no doubt have forgotten all about the conditions of the planning permission granted in 2010, nearly seven long years ago to the day. One of the conditions requires the owners to implement the landscaping and planting scheme which they themselves submitted in support of their planning application. And this very same landscaping and planting scheme clearly shows a number of trees and shrubs being planted throughout the site and, in particular, along the boundary with Stone Road.
The planning permission requires the owners to implement the scheme within eight months of the development being put into use. Now, we're not sure whether this means when the first residents move in or when all the development activity has been completed so we got in touch with the Borough Council to find out.
What they said in their (very quick) reply came as a bit of a surprise. They are now investigating to establish if there has been a breach of planning permission on the site. (On second thoughts, given the history of the whole thing, perhaps it isn't that much of a surprise after all). We'll post full details about the possible breach as soon as we find out. And, of course, if you know what's going on, do let us know.
One thing that we have noticed about the site is that a fence has been erected on plot 1 along the Stone Road side. Strangely enough, it runs exactly along the line where trees are supposed to be planted. Whether the good residents of plot 1 know about this, we can't say. We'd have thought that their solicitors would have brought the conditions of the planning permission to their attention before they bought the property. There again ... you never know.
We've been hearing loads of stories about the goings-on of this development for some time now: unoccupied properties being broken into, bricks being stolen, bills not being paid, court hearings and now a breach of planning legislation. We thought that once the building work had started back in 2015 that would be the end of the matter and we could all get on with our lives. Some hope.
And oh yes, we nearly forgot. Merry Christmas to one and all!
Sunday 5 February 2017
Not quite The Last Post
Well, it looks like our new neighbours are finally starting to move in. Curtains in the windows and cars in the drive are a bit of a give away, aren't they? Obviously we extend a curteous welcome to the Rough Close community but also our sympathy as they will be living in the middle of a building site for the immediate future.
Building work started again with a vengeance this week with the arrival of fresh loads of bricks, mortar and all manner of tradesmen. Quite when all the properties will be finished, however, remains open to speculation. The Blog isn't going away just yet although, hopefully, there will be less need to post.
Building work started again with a vengeance this week with the arrival of fresh loads of bricks, mortar and all manner of tradesmen. Quite when all the properties will be finished, however, remains open to speculation. The Blog isn't going away just yet although, hopefully, there will be less need to post.
Wednesday 14 December 2016
The Christmas Post
Around about this time last year, we ventured to say that it would probably be the last time we wished our readers the compliments of the season. We figured that, by now, the new houses would be all be built and maybe even occupied. How wrong can you be? The building work continues. Sort of. Nothing seems to have happened on the site for the past three weeks and there still seems a lot to do.
However, according to the parish newsletter, three of the properties have been sold and the buyers are due to move in "by the first week in December". The newsletter adds that the site is to be known as Dragon Court.
This year, we've decided not to post our usual "Christmas Card" at the top of the Blog as we feel now is the time to move on by which we mean simply looking forward rather than backward. As one of our very sensible neighbours has pointed out, when the new people do move in they will become part of the Rough Close community.
Nevertheless we wish everyone a very merry Christmas and, you never know, we might still be here this time next year! All the very best.
However, according to the parish newsletter, three of the properties have been sold and the buyers are due to move in "by the first week in December". The newsletter adds that the site is to be known as Dragon Court.
This year, we've decided not to post our usual "Christmas Card" at the top of the Blog as we feel now is the time to move on by which we mean simply looking forward rather than backward. As one of our very sensible neighbours has pointed out, when the new people do move in they will become part of the Rough Close community.
Nevertheless we wish everyone a very merry Christmas and, you never know, we might still be here this time next year! All the very best.
Wednesday 27 April 2016
New Planning Application Update
Apologies for this belated update. Local councillors have been consulted (not by us) and we were hoping to report more information about the status of the application which we are as yet unable to do.
However, we've looked into the new application in a bit more detail now and compared the new proposals with the previously approved plans. The main points are as reported in the earlier post: the owners wish to build living accommodation and an additional bedroom using the space previously allocated to the garages on plots 3 and 7. They also want to build a detached, single garage for plot 7 between the house and plot 2 and a single attached garage for plot 3.
The main impact seems to be on the occupants of the first house in Leadendale Lane with a potential loss of light entering the property and restricted views to the north facing side.
The detached garage for plot 7 means a reduction in its garden size and less space between plots 7 and 2.
As regards plot 3, it looks like the applicants have removed one of the trees which are shown on the approved plans in order to fit the garage in. And the siting of plot 7's detached garage looks decidedly perilous to the tree that should be planted there! Or maybe they don't intend to bother.
The documentation itself gives some cause for concern as it states the site name as the George & Dragon, Meaford! Surely, planning documentation must be completed correctly. If it isn't, what's the point in having a planning procedure?
We continue to have concerns about the failure to meet condition 19 which should have been met before development work started and should provide details of access to the development once complete. And yet here we have a proposal which affects the layout of the site and, potentially, its safety.
Like other residents, we want to see this whole saga brought to a rapid conclusion. However, safety must be a prime consideration. If you want to object you can do so in writing, via the Borough Council website (link below) or by email. The planning reference is 16/23982/FUL. Closing date is 3rd May 2016.
However, we've looked into the new application in a bit more detail now and compared the new proposals with the previously approved plans. The main points are as reported in the earlier post: the owners wish to build living accommodation and an additional bedroom using the space previously allocated to the garages on plots 3 and 7. They also want to build a detached, single garage for plot 7 between the house and plot 2 and a single attached garage for plot 3.
The main impact seems to be on the occupants of the first house in Leadendale Lane with a potential loss of light entering the property and restricted views to the north facing side.
The detached garage for plot 7 means a reduction in its garden size and less space between plots 7 and 2.
As regards plot 3, it looks like the applicants have removed one of the trees which are shown on the approved plans in order to fit the garage in. And the siting of plot 7's detached garage looks decidedly perilous to the tree that should be planted there! Or maybe they don't intend to bother.
The documentation itself gives some cause for concern as it states the site name as the George & Dragon, Meaford! Surely, planning documentation must be completed correctly. If it isn't, what's the point in having a planning procedure?
We continue to have concerns about the failure to meet condition 19 which should have been met before development work started and should provide details of access to the development once complete. And yet here we have a proposal which affects the layout of the site and, potentially, its safety.
Like other residents, we want to see this whole saga brought to a rapid conclusion. However, safety must be a prime consideration. If you want to object you can do so in writing, via the Borough Council website (link below) or by email. The planning reference is 16/23982/FUL. Closing date is 3rd May 2016.
Saturday 16 April 2016
Here We Go Again (Again). Oops, we've used that title before. Sorry!
Residents in the immediate vicinity of the new builds this week received notification that the owners of the site have submitted yet another planning application for a variation of the existing planning permission. We're still looking into the implications but in summary the owners wish to utilise the garage space for accommodation on plots 3 and 7, and build an extra bedroom on plot 7. In addition, to provide an attached garage for plot 3 and a detached garage for plot 7.
Now that might not sound too bad. However, the owners have already built the extra bedroom on plot 7 at least. The planning application is therefore retrospective.
Our initial concerns are that the conditions of the original planning permission have not yet been met so we have no idea of what the access provisions will look like and now the owners wish to take action which could lead to more people living in the houses. We have a concern that parking might be an issue.
There have been a couple of other developments as well. First of all, we understand the people who purchased plot 1 have since changed their minds and asked for their deposit back! We wonder why? Secondly, we have also been informed that there has been a break-in at one of the properties, plot 1 again, it seems. You couldn't make this up, could you? The planning permission was granted in 2010 and here we are nearly six years later still with a building site on our doorsteps.
Once we've looked into the proposals in more detail we'll let you know.
Now that might not sound too bad. However, the owners have already built the extra bedroom on plot 7 at least. The planning application is therefore retrospective.
Our initial concerns are that the conditions of the original planning permission have not yet been met so we have no idea of what the access provisions will look like and now the owners wish to take action which could lead to more people living in the houses. We have a concern that parking might be an issue.
There have been a couple of other developments as well. First of all, we understand the people who purchased plot 1 have since changed their minds and asked for their deposit back! We wonder why? Secondly, we have also been informed that there has been a break-in at one of the properties, plot 1 again, it seems. You couldn't make this up, could you? The planning permission was granted in 2010 and here we are nearly six years later still with a building site on our doorsteps.
Once we've looked into the proposals in more detail we'll let you know.
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