PLANNERS will visit the site of a controversial development after they heard of several potential breaches.
Developer Granville Falshaw was said to have “broken every rule in the book” at his Eccleshall Road scheme.
Stafford Borough Council’s planning committee heard several residents had complained about the development with concerns about one of the properties on the site.
Ward councillor Frank James said there had been several planning breaches including starting the development before planning permission had been given; continuing work after the council had issued a stop notice and removing trees and hedges.
“Surely this is a breach against any planning conditions imposed,” he said.
“This builder has broken all the rules in the book, starting work just after 6am and working over the weekends.
“Many local residents have been ringing in their concerns about health and safety rules.”
Planning manager Jon Holmes said the changes from the permission resulted in an increase in width of 18cm and 2cm in depth and none in height.
Proposing a site visit, Councillor Ravi Bhakhri said: “One of the houses has got
four bedrooms instead of three and additional parking and has gone from a two- storey to a three-storey.”
Councillor Bill Simpson said: “My concern is the number of external windows in this building and how it affects the privacy of the neighbours.”
One resident who complained to the council was paid £250 for delays in reply- ing after he also complained to the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO), who this week announced they had closed their investigation.
A spokesman for the LGO said: “We have closed (the case) and we are satis- fied with the action the authority planned to take and we are not issuing a report.”
