If you own a home in Stone, you may have noticed the planning notices appearing on lampposts along Eccleshall Road, or heard conversations in the town centre about new housing estates on the edges of Walton and Oulton. This is not background noise. Right now, Stone is at the centre of one of the most significant planning battles in Staffordshire — and the outcome will shape property values, infrastructure, and the character of this market town for a generation.
At Belvoir Stone, we believe homeowners deserve clarity, not confusion. So here is a plain-English breakdown of what is happening, why it is happening, and what it genuinely means for the value of your property.
Why Stone is under development pressure in 2026
The root cause of the current wave of planning applications is a critical shortage of deliverable housing land. Stafford Borough Council currently holds just 1.95 years of housing land supply — well below the five-year benchmark required by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
When a local authority falls below that threshold, it loses a significant degree of planning control. Developers can argue that the presumption in favour of sustainable development applies, making it considerably harder for the council to refuse applications on sites that might otherwise be protected.
This is precisely why Stone is seeing so many simultaneous applications. Developers are not acting by coincidence — they are responding to a policy window.
What is the grey belt, and why does it matter for Stone?
The term “Grey Belt” was introduced through the revised NPPF in late 2024 under the Labour government’s housing reform agenda. It refers to land within the Green Belt that is considered to be of lower quality or reduced openness — for example, previously developed land, scrubland, or land adjacent to existing built-up areas that contributes little to the Green Belt’s core purposes.
Crucially, the new policy makes it easier for developers to argue that Grey Belt land should be released for housing, even where full Green Belt designation remains in place.
The fillybrooks: Stone’s live grey belt test case
The most closely watched application in Stone right now involves St Philips Land Ltd, which is seeking permission for 70 homes at The Fillybrooks — a site that sits within the Green Belt but is being promoted under the new Grey Belt classification.
The Fillybrooks site lies to the north of the town, and its outcome will set a local precedent. If Stafford Borough Council approves it, it signals that Stone’s Green Belt boundaries are genuinely porous under the new framework. If refused, it will likely trigger an appeal — and given the council’s land supply position, the Planning Inspectorate may well overturn that decision.
Either way, the result will be watched carefully by every other developer with land interests around Stone.
The full picture: 800+ homes across Stone’s boundaries
The Fillybrooks is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. Across Stone’s edges, developers are pursuing the following live applications:
Bloor Homes is proposing 510 homes on Eccleshall Road to the west of the town — by far the largest single proposal and one that would materially expand Stone’s footprint toward the village of Aston-by-Stone.
Richborough Estates is seeking permission for 95 homes off Uttoxeter Road to the east, in an area that borders the residential streets of Oulton.
Crest Nicholson has submitted a separate application for 130 homes, also off Uttoxeter Road, which would sit adjacent to the Richborough site.
Together, these proposals represent over 800 new homes on Stone’s greenfield and Green Belt edges — a number that understandably raises questions for existing homeowners about what happens to their property values.
What does new housing supply actually do to property prices?
This is the question Belvoir Stone hears most often from anxious homeowners, and the honest answer is more reassuring than most people expect.
Stone’s price growth tells a confident story
Despite the planning uncertainty — or perhaps partly because of the demand signals it reflects — Stone’s property market has performed strongly in 2026. The average property price in Stone stood at £289,613 in early 2026 and has climbed to £311,475 year-to-date, representing a robust growth rate of +6.37%.
That is not the profile of a market being undermined by new supply. It is the profile of a market where demand continues to outpace availability.
Why new homes rarely depress existing values in desirable towns
Economic research consistently shows that in towns with strong underlying demand — good schools, transport links, employment access, and community amenity — new housing supply tends to support rather than suppress prices. Stone’s rail connections to Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent, its independent high street, and its proximity to the Staffordshire countryside make it exactly this kind of location.
New homes do create short-term uncertainty, particularly in the streets immediately adjacent to development sites. Walton and Oulton homeowners near the Uttoxeter Road corridor may experience a period of disruption during construction phases. However, once built, well-designed developments with new roads, open spaces, and community infrastructure often enhance the broader neighbourhood’s appeal.
What sellers in Stone need to know right now
If you are considering selling in 2026, the current planning environment creates both urgency and opportunity.
Urgency, because buyers are aware of the planning applications and some will factor potential disruption into their offers — particularly for properties closest to proposed sites. Getting an accurate, up-to-date valuation now means you are pricing with full market intelligence, not guesswork.
Opportunity, because Stone’s +6.37% price growth means many homeowners are sitting on significantly more equity than they realise. With average values now at £311,475 year-to-date, the gap between what sellers expect and what the market will deliver has rarely been more favourable.
Neighbourhood-level considerations for Walton and Oulton
Properties in Walton and Oulton, particularly those on or near Uttoxeter Road, should be assessed individually. The proximity to the Richborough and Crest Nicholson sites means these streets will attract buyer questions about construction timelines and future road layouts.
A professional valuation from Belvoir Stone will factor in these site-specific considerations and give you a realistic picture of your home’s current market position — not a generic average.
How to stay ahead of the planning curve
Planning applications in England are public documents. You can track the progress of all four Stone applications through Stafford Borough Council’s online planning portal. Key reference points to watch are the consultation deadlines, any officer recommendations, and the committee hearing dates—all of which will be publicly listed.
If a development near your home receives approval, the period immediately following the decision is often the most active for local sales enquiries, as buyers seek to secure properties before construction activity begins.
Speak to the local experts at Belvoir Stone
Stone’s planning landscape in September 2026 is genuinely complex — but it is not cause for alarm. The data points firmly toward a resilient market, and homeowners who act with accurate information are best placed to make confident decisions.
Whether you are thinking about selling now, in six months, or simply want to understand what the Bloor Homes or Fillybrooks applications mean for your street, Belvoir Stone is here to help with honest, locally grounded advice.
Book a free property valuation with Belvoir Stone today and find out exactly where your home stands in this evolving market. Our team knows Stone’s streets, its planning history, and its buyer demand patterns in detail — and we are ready to put that knowledge to work for you.
Get in touch with our Stone branch directly to ask any questions about the local market, the planning applications affecting your area, or your next steps as a seller. We are always happy to talk.
