Plans for a 60-bed care home with an attached 'drop in' GP consulting rooms and dentistry room have been refused.

The scheme would also have seen 18 apartments, 33 houses, a children's playground and a convenience store built near the A449 in Coven.

The proposal would have included a new vehicle and pedestrian access from the A449, and a new pedestrian access to the north from Brewood Road.

The application also included new public open space as well as a public playing field.

The site is located in the greenbelt, and applicants Brian and Emma Saunders, argued that the land should be considered greybelt due to the limited contribution it makes to the purpose of the greenbelt.

South Staffordshire Council confirms that it has a five year housing land supply of 0.87 years.

Staffordshire County Council highways department and National Highways recommended that the application is refused due to insufficient information being provided.

Additionally, the ecology officer at South Staffordshire Council also objected to the plans as more information on otters and white clawed crayfish were required.

In total 42 residents submitted feedback on the plans with "a majority supporting the application.

The 26 residents who supported the application claimed it was a good use of land, that the site is logical for new homes and it would be a positive addition to the village.

However, other residents claimed the development would mean a loss of greenbelt land and raised concerns of urban sprawl and the area becoming a suburb of Wolverhampton.

Infrastructure concerns were also raised and the lack of school places.

The design and access document submitted by the applicant stated: "The proposals provide much needed housing and crucially accommodation for the elderly in a sustainable location, provide employment for the local population, much needed recreational facilities for the southern areas of Coven and significant on site affordable dwellings.

In doing so addressing the requirements of national, regional and local planning policies."

Planning officers at South Staffordshire Council refused planning permission on 11 grounds.

They include the harm to the greenbelt, the density of development and the design of the proposed houses being 'poor'.

Planning officers state: "It is recognised that the Council is currently unable to demonstrate a five year housing land supply, with only 0.87 years identified.

"Significant weight is therefore attached to the need to boost housing delivery.

"The proposal would make a substantial contribution towards meeting identified housing needs through the provision of market and affordable housing, together with specialist accommodation for older people.

"Additional benefits would arise through economic investment, job creation, public open space, green infrastructure and biodiversity enhancements.

"These benefits attract substantial weight in favour of the proposal.

"The proposal therefore constitutes inappropriate development in the Green Belt and would result in a significant harm to the openness of the Green Belt, resulting in unrestricted sprawl and encroachment into the countryside.

"The design of the proposal is not acceptable, as there is large, three storey buildings which are unduly large and inappropriate within the rural area."

Header image via Roger D Kidd on Geograph