Plans for a 5,000-home eco-town in Staffordshire – believed to be the largest planning application of its kind in the West Midlands for more than 50 years – have been withdrawn by developers.

However, the Curborough Consortium said it remained committed to the principles behind the Government’s controversial eco-town agenda and still wants to develop the Fradley Airfield site near Lichfield.

The site, on 700 acres of a disused airfield, has been earmarked by the Government as one of 10 possible eco-towns across the country – another is Long Marston in Warwickshire. The Curborough Consortium included four companies – Redrow Homes, Hallam Land Management, Banks Developments and Gleeson Homes.

It said it had withdrawn its bid after discussions with the Department of Communities and Local Government.

A consortium official said: “We were delighted to have been shortlisted and have fully engaged in the eco-town process. It is with regret that we feel we must withdraw our bid, however, we remain committed to the principles behind the eco-town agenda.

“We will continue to pursue our planning application for a new settlement at Curborough.”