How Packmoor's two Labour councillors voted as farmland still primed for housing
Councillors have blocked a bid to protect a Stoke-on-Trent village's green fields from development. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is currently consulting residents on proposals to 'transform' Packmoor, which could include homes being built on council-owned farm land outside the village, along with new amenities.
The consultation has prompted fierce opposition to development from many residents, who fear Packmoor could lose its rural identity. Goldenhill and Sandyford councillor Chandra Kanneganti proposed a motion to this week's full council meeting calling on the Labour-run authority not to include the Packmoor land in the forthcoming local plan, which will guide all development in the city.
But the motion was voted down by Labour councillors, who argued that it would make the local plan open to challenge, and insisted the Packmoor consultation was still ongoing. The council's monitoring officer James Doble had previously raised concerns that the motion could 'restrict options and hamper the development of the local plan'.
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Cllr Kanneganti, in presenting his motion, told the meeting that the council should be looking to build on brownfield land instead of sites such as Packmoor. The Conservative councillor said: "Nobody is opposed to building new homes, but we should not be building on green fields. Let's build on brownfield first. I was just driving down the A500 now and there is so many derelict buildings, so much space - so why are we targeting green space?
"Labour has purposefully delayed levelling up projects in Longton, Tunstall, Hanley and Stoke, which means that prime brownfield sites are being left empty, while Labour focuses on easier to build greenfield sites such as Packmoor fields, which no resident wants. I've not heard from one resident supporting this.
"Green spaces are essential for wellbeing, offering numerous benefits for individuals and communities. It encourages physical activity and reduces stress."
Cllr Kanneganti also claimed the consultation had not been honest with residents, saying the proposals to improve Packmoor were simply a way of pushing through housing plans in order to meet Stoke-on-Trent's increased housing targets.
Council leader Jane Ashworth insisted the authority was prioritising brownfield sites for development, but had to consider other land as well.
She added: "The motion is pre-emptive of the local plan process. There is a heavily statute-bound process which we have to go through. If we pre-empt discussions now by making decisions on this, that or the other piece of land, then we stand at risk of a Secretary of State review.
"Brownfield has to be first, of course. But that doesn't stop consideration of other patches of land."
Cllr Ashworth told the meeting that the Packmoor land had originally been proposed for consideration in the local plan by opposition Conservative leader Dan Jellyman in 2020, who was than cabinet member for regeneration. She accused the opposition of using the issue as a 'political football'.
Cllr Jellyman acknowledged that this was the case, but said a lot had happened since 2020, such as the abandonment of the joint local plan with Newcastle, and the award of government funding for remediating brownfield sites.
He said: "The owner of Packmoor Fields is the city council. The owner of land can nominate or choose not to nominate land for development. Therefore the council could vote for this motion to not include it, because as the landowner it's within the city council's gift to withdraw it from the local plan process - which they're not doing."
Little Chell and Stanfield councillor David Williams, who is also Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, insisted his party was committed to building more homes in Stoke-on-Trent.
He said: "I've seen time and again how the Conservatives would rather score political points than tackle the housing crisis that's taking place in our city. Three thousand people are on the council house waiting list, families are living in overcrowded homes, young people are unable to get a foot on the ladder. That is why we're building 1.5 million new homes across the country, because we need to do it.
"This motion is nothing about protecting Packmoor. I value our green spaces greatly. But this motion is no solution. It's about tying the hands of the council and limiting options."
David Mountford, Labour councillor for Great Chell and Packmoor, announced at the start of the meeting that he would not be able to take part in the debate on the motion, as he rented council-owned land which could be part of the local plan. Fellow Labour councillor Sue Akkurt, who represents the same ward, abstained on the vote, due to the consultation still continuing.
Consultants from Augarde have been hosting a series of consultation events since December, asking Packmoor residents who the village can be improved. A report on the consultation responses is due to be prepared soon.
Louise Vincent was one of a number of Packmoor residents who attended the council meeting. She said: "This wasn't really about the motion, it was about holding the council to account. When they say they're going to be consulting residents, that's what they should do. But we don't feel we're being listened to."
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