EXCLUSIVE 'They want to concrete us over': Furious locals in one of Britain's most desired villagers say they are under siege from 10 different newbuild estates which will box them in and 'dismantle their society'

Daily Mail​

13-07-2025

Locals from one of the best places to live in Britain fear plans for developers to build thousands of new homes on green field land could 'dismantle the fabric of their society'.
Residents from Eccleshall, Staffordshire, are furious at the proposals put forward by four major developers, which will turn over 200 acres of green space into ten new estates.
They claim the new homes would double their population, lead to a strain on public services and destroy the community.
'The infrastructure can't cope with it as it is. The sewage is overflowing, the schools are full, the doctors surgeries are full, and we're thinking of importing about another 1,500 houses,' explained Susie Clowes, who has lived in Eccleshall for 45 years.
'It's a fantastic place to live, the press have labelled it as one of the best places in the country to live and since then the developers have pounced like locusts.
'We have no car park in the town. It's just very sad that this wonderful agricultural land that we've got, Grade II agricultural land is being torn up for houses and we'll never get it back.'
The key developers are Blore Homes, Taylor Wimpey, Muller Property Group and Bellway Homes, and if plans go ahead it could see the town grow four times in size.
Blore Homes have said they would build a surgery and a school to help with the increased population of the area but residents fear it's an empty promise.
Martin Peet told MailOnline: 'At the Parish Council surgery last week they said there's no promise of building a school at all, and there's no promise of a new surgery.
'Apparently what's happened is they've said "We'll locate you a piece of land".
'So Staffordshire Borough Council have got to find the money to build a new school, they haven't got the money.'
If the building goes ahead, it is also likely that 40 per cent of the new homes will be classified as affordable or social housing - a notion that residents fear will 'destroy' Eccleshall.
'The fabric of Eccleshall society, will be totally dismantled,' Mr Peet added.
'Because 40 plus is going to be social, the whole dynamic will change. We will no longer have that village feel, it will be gone.'
This year, Eccleshall was named one of the best places to live in Britain because of its 'village feel'.
David Whitaker, 61, who has lived in Eccleshall for 10 years told MailOnline: 'This place is so nice it's no wonder they're developing, but it will ruin it.
Stephen Harding (pictured), whose property will look over one of the developments where 500 homes are expected to be built said the proposal has led to sleepless nights
Residents claim the new homes would double their population, lead to a strain on public services and destroy the community
'It's appalling, it's a lovely place, it hasn't got the capacity to cope with all the developing that's going on.
'It's going to take away the honesty of the place and the feel good factor will go.
'It can just about cope now with everybody living here.'
But not every resident is opposed to the plans, Mollie Feeney, 22, thinks it could provide an opportunity for younger people to step onto the property ladder.
'I think it's positive that they're doing it,' Ms Feeney told MailOnline.
'I was a first-time buyer a year and a half ago and I know that it is more accessible when you buy in a newbuild.
'It does seem to be the older generation that are disapproving of the plans but I really feel it's a generational divide.'
The proposed developments would border the town and bring vast amounts of footfall to the area.
Christine Easter, 76, who has lived in the area for 45 years, told MailOnline: 'It's the shock of actually seeing the planning coming in for it on fields.
'They're too big, there's too many. We've already had three housing projects that have gone. When we moved in there were field behind us, now there's houses there.
'It will affect parking and the doctors and the schools aren't going to cope.'
Stephen Harding, whose property will look over one of the developments where 500 homes are expected to be built said the proposal has led to sleepless nights.
Mr Harding said: 'There's four big developers. If they have their way they'll concrete us to Stafford.
'There's been no offer of intended development of infrastructure from the council. The town is busted, its got as far as it can go.
'Gradually over the years the town has filled, filled and filled. We had a battle to have two windows on the side of our house, there's no consistency with what was allowed in the 80s and what's happening now.'
But despite constant campaigning locals feel overlooked and Mr Peet feels more action needs to be taken.
'I've downloaded the rules for a referendum and it looks like we're going to have to go to a referendum. It's non-binding but it will send a signal out,' he told MailOnline.
'We don't want this, we can't cope. I rang last week for a doctors appointment and it was four weeks. The grids lift every time we have a bit of rain.
'All these sites on the periphery it will just mean two to three thousand cars will be going to Eccleshall everyday.
'Six years ago we had 950 houses now we have 15,000. To make Eccleshall four times the size it is today is wrong.'
A spokesperson for Taylor Wimpey said: 'Taylor Wimpey will deliver 150 new homes, 60 of which are affordable, as part of the proposed development for Eccleshall.
'Following a public consultation on our proposal, we have reviewed and incorporated, where possible, the feedback received to ensure it reflects the views of the wider community.
'The proposal includes a large area of public open space, which is currently private land, designed to include a park and village green for the benefit of both existing and new residents.
'All landscaping has been carefully considered to respect the Eccleshall Conservation Area and include new grassland and wildflower beds, native thicket, and tree planting to contribute to biodiversity gains on site.'
A spokesperson for Stafford Borough Council said: 'We have not received any planning applications for hundreds of new homes in Eccleshall in the last few years.'