Family, accessible and affordable homes reflecting the character of Eccleshall
The landscape-led development would deliver up to 500 homes, at least 30% of which would be affordable homes. The new homes could include homes specifically designed for those wishing to downsize into more manageable or accessible properties, as well as a range of high-quality family homes.
Bloor Homes is always happy to discuss local occupancy criteria for affordable homes with the local planning authority, if this is something that is identified as a local priority. This would ensure that people on lower incomes with connections to Eccleshall would be prioritised for affordable housing.
House types
The planning application being prepared is an outline planning application. This type of planning application sets out the broad principles of development, such as concept layout, infrastructure and access arrangements. Details such as house types, architecture etc would be subject to subsequent further planning applications for each phase of the development (called Reserved Matters planning applications). These would involve further consultation with the community. However, we have provided a gallery of images of existing Bloor Homes’ developments, which give an indication of the types of homes that would be provided in Eccleshall. It is envisaged that these would be from the Queen Anne range, in addition to frontage homes designed to Bloor Homes’ bespoke Staffordshire Design Code.
At this stage, a mix of high-quality, net zero carbon ready homes is envisaged, in a range of styles and tenures. This would include family homes, affordable homes, accessible homes that are adaptable to the changing needs of residents, and specialist older people’s accommodation.
We would welcome your feedback on the types of homes you would like to see prioritised.
Examples of existing Bloor Homes developments, including the Queen Anne range which would feature at Eccleshall - click to open image gallery
Bloor Homes’ Staffordshire Design Code
Bloor Homes has developed a bespoke Staffordshire Design Code, informed by the character, materiality and architecture of the county’s towns and villages, including Eccleshall. It is envisaged that the frontage homes at the development would be from this bespoke range, reflecting the existing heritage and character of the town.
Illustrative sketches showing homes designed to Bloor Homes’ bespoke Staffordshire Design Code, a design that will be unique to developments in Staffordshire towns like Eccleshall - click to open an image gallery
Specialist Older People’s Housing
In our online community priorities survey, conducted during March and April 2025, we asked whether there was an appetite locally for the provision of Specialist Older People’s Housing, homes dedicated for older people with a lower age limit applied. Bloor Homes has delivered this in other developments, including a recent development in Newport, Shropshire. There was an overwhelmingly positive response to this question in our survey, so we are now proposing the inclusion of Specialist Older People’s Housing within the new neighbourhood east of Eccleshall.
The development will provide Specialist Older People's Housing as part of the mix of homes.
A new school on the east side of Eccleshall
The emerging outline proposals includes a 1.2ha site for a new primary school. The current school in Eccleshall is located on the south-western side of the town, while much of the recent residential development is located to the east. Providing a new school on the east side of the town could deliver numerous benefits, including relieving traffic pressures on the town centre at peak hours and reducing reliance on the car for school journeys.
The development would provide a new primary school for the east side of Eccleshall. An example from another development. - click to enlarge
A new purpose-built health centre for Eccleshall
The proposals include a 0.36ha site for the delivery of a modern new purpose-built health centre to be operated by Eccleshall’s Crown Surgery. The practice currently operates from the Grade-II listed building on the High Street which is at capacity with little scope to expand. Providing a modern new health centre at the proposed development would provide a facility for the practice to relocate and expand provision to meet the future needs of the community.
Our holistic approach to delivering Eccleshall’s future housing needs will deliver community infrastructure planned in from the outset. This includes the provision of a new purpose-built health centre for Eccleshall’s Crown Surgery
Extensive green public open space
A significant proportion of the overall development site would be provided as green public open space providing a range of open space facilities which could include play areas, wildflower areas, community orchards and areas for informal outdoor play. Existing mature trees on site will be retained, along with the majority of existing hedgerows. There is also an opportunity to reintroduce historic hedgerows that have been lost to intensive agriculture as part of a planting strategy that will also significantly increase tree cover across the site.
The existing public right of way that crosses the site will be retained and enhanced as part of the extensive open space proposals, and a network of new public walking and cycling routes will be provided.
Investing in wider community infrastructure
In addition to the community facilities such as the new health centre and primary school being provided, an important consideration with a planning proposal such as this is to ensure that other key local services receive the investment they need to accommodate housing growth in Eccleshall.
The development will generate significant investment into local infrastructure such as highways, healthcare and education. This will be informed by formal consultation on the submitted outline planning application carried out by Stafford Borough Council with statutory bodies such as the NHS, local education authority and highways authority. This investment will be secured via legal agreement between the developer and the Council.
Let us know your priorities for local infrastructure investment which we can report to the Council as part of our outline planning submission.