New holiday park approved after years of objection

Plans to turn a former quarry in Staffordshire into a holiday park have been given the go-ahead after more than a decade of objections from locals.

The 400-acre Laver Leisure scheme for Moneystone Quarry, near Cheadle, was granted outline approval in 2016, but nearby residents have been fighting the plans since 2011 when the quarry shut.

Final plans for phase one of the development, comprising about 190 holiday lodges, were refused by the local authority in 2023 but that has now been overturned by a planning inspector.

An application for the second phase, which could take the total number of lodges up to 250, has yet to be decided.

Laver Leisure was also previously granted permission for smaller elements of the scheme which included converting a former laboratory building on the site into a visitor centre.

Developers say the first phase of the project will see construction of a central hub building - to include a farm shop, gym, swimming pool, spa, restaurant/cafe, bowling alley, cinema room, games room and visitor centre - as well as 190 holiday lodges.

The first part of the development will also include outdoor amenities such as children's play areas, a multi-use games area, vehicle and cycle parking, footpaths, cycleways and bridleways.

The second phase of the development would see an additional 60 holiday lodges, taking the total to 250.

Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is expected to make a decision on the second phase early this year.

Laver Leisure said the new holiday park would provide about 250 full-time permanent jobs when it opened, as well as 230 construction jobs while it was being built.

Councillor James Aberley said residents were disappointed to see the plans approved.

"Locally, nobody sees any benefit to this," he said.

He added it would bring "additional traffic chaos" and that the completed scheme would be larger than the combined size of its two neighbouring villages, Whiston and Oakamoor.

"Locally the residents feel the planning inspector and council have ignored all the valid concerns about the application and about the appearance of the lodges that are proposed."

The company said the proposed development was in line with the council's planning and tourism policies, and that it would aim for 40% of goods and services on site to be provided by local businesses.

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