Planning permission granted for affordable homes at former Highfields Social Club

Plans to demolish a derelict Stafford social club to make way for 14 new affordable homes have been approved by Stafford Borough Council.

The development will see the former Highfields Social Club on Barnes Road knocked down and replaced with a mix of three-bedroom houses, a three-bedroom bungalow, and one-bedroom apartments.

The site has stood vacant and deteriorating for several years. In March, the derelict building was targeted in a suspected arson attack. Staffordshire Police and fire crews were called to the scene following reports of a deliberate blaze. The fire was extinguished without any injuries, and police appealed for witnesses after three teenagers were seen running from the scene.

Development design and layout

The approved plans will create a 100 per cent affordable rent development, delivered in partnership with local housing association Homes Plus.

The layout features a central access road leading to a private parking courtyard for residents, alongside a small number of frontage parking spaces facing Barnes Road. The scheme will also include visitor parking spaces, secure cycle storage for apartment residents, and individual private gardens for the houses.

Solar panels will be installed on the new properties, and the dwellings will be constructed using timber frames and a “fabric first” approach to maximise energy efficiency.

Addressing local concerns

During the planning process, developers addressed several technical and community considerations:

• Flooding: The site sits adjacent to Rising Brook. While the brook corridor falls within a flood zone, developers confirmed the actual development area sits on higher ground within Flood Zone 1 (the lowest risk category). The site’s surface water drainage system has been designed to route heavy rainfall away from the new buildings and safely towards the brook.
• Ecology: A biodiversity assessment confirmed the existing site holds low wildlife value. To mitigate the loss of some boundary scrub, the new homes will feature built-in bird and bat boxes, alongside new native berry-bearing trees and shrubs.
• Education funding: Staffordshire County Council requested a financial contribution of £42,992 from the developers to help fund secondary school places in Stafford, mitigating the impact of new families moving into the area.
• Crime prevention: Following advice from Staffordshire Police regarding high local crime rates and construction site thefts, developers have been urged to adopt “Secured by Design” standards, including secure boundary fencing, external lighting, and video intercoms for the apartments.

Stafford Borough Council officially approved the application on Wednesday 28 October 2026.