A large area of green space in Newcastle-under-Lyme could be partly sold for housing as the borough council looks at ways of funding a major expansion of Bradwell Crematorium.
The council is proposing to include the 16.6-acre Arnold Grove site, next to the crematorium, within its updated asset management strategy.
Under the proposal, part of the land could be used to extend the crematorium, while another section could potentially be sold for residential development.
The council says the sale of land could generate the money needed to fund the crematorium expansion, which is expected to cost up to £1.4 million.
The proposal has already attracted political criticism, particularly because Arnold Grove had previously been put forward for protection through Fields in Trust – a national organisation which works to protect parks and green spaces for public use.
That protection would have meant the site was retained for public use in perpetuity.
However, council leader Jonathan Gullis confirmed that Arnold Grove has now been withdrawn from consideration for Fields in Trust.
No final decision has yet been made on disposing of the land, and any potential sale would be subject to consultation.
Why is the council looking at selling the land?
The council says using its own land could provide a way of paying for the crematorium works without having to borrow the money.
The proposed expansion of Bradwell Crematorium could cost up to £1.4 million, with council leaders arguing that using a capital receipt from development would avoid additional borrowing and the associated costs.
Speaking during scrutiny discussions, Cllr Gullis said there was a need for development to help fund the expansion and argued that new housing could also increase the council's tax base.
The council's position is that the approach could allow it to make use of an existing asset rather than borrowing to finance the project.
However, the proposal has reopened the wider debate over the future of green spaces across Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Opposition to the plans
Conservative group leader Simon Tagg criticised the proposal, arguing that Arnold Grove and other green spaces should be protected.
He pointed to the previous administration's attempts to register a number of sites with Fields in Trust and described the potential disposal of green space as a concern for local residents.
Arnold Grove is not the only site attracting attention.
Other areas being added to the council's asset management strategy include St Edmunds Avenue in Porthill, Sheldon Grove in Chesterton, Slaney Street/Occupation Street in Newcastle, Cross Street in Longbridge Hayes, Riley's Way and Gresley Way in Bignall End, and Milford Road in Seabridge.
Some of these sites had also previously been proposed for Fields in Trust protection.
A proposal from Cllr Tagg asking for the sites to be removed from the asset management strategy was rejected by the scrutiny committee, which voted to support the proposed changes.
What happens next?
For residents living around Arnold Grove and Bradwell, the key issue will now be what happens to the land and whether any housing development eventually comes forward.
At this stage, the council has not made a final decision to sell the land.
Any disposal would be subject to further processes and consultation, meaning residents will have an opportunity to have their say if the plans progress.
The crematorium expansion itself is not a new idea. Previous council plans dating back several years included proposals to extend the crematorium grounds, with development of the remaining council-owned land being considered as a potential way of generating the money required.
Council documents from 2021 recorded approval in principle for an extension of the crematorium grounds and consideration of using a capital receipt from residential development to help fund the work.
The latest proposals therefore bring a long-running issue back into the spotlight – but this time against the backdrop of a council looking for ways to manage its finances while also facing questions over the future of publicly owned green space.
Six Towns Daily will continue to follow developments and will bring you further details if the council launches a public consultation on the proposals.
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