Decision due over house

Plans for a 106-home estate on Bridgnorth’s former college site could be given the go-ahead next week, paving the way for more than £350,000 to be ploughed into sport in the town.

Housing giant Persimmon Homes is offering £353,489 to boost leisure in Bridgnorth as part of its development plan.

The developer submitted an application to the district council for a 106-home estate on the former Bridgnorth College site in August last year.

Plans for the 5.1-acre site in Stourbridge Road include 70 two-bedroom flats - of which 27 will be classed as affordable - 18 detached houses, 13 semi-detached and five terraced homes. Planning officers at the council said the cash contribution would be used to develop a natural turf football pitch and to pay for work to bring the existing tennis courts back into use at Bridgnorth Leisure Centre.

Officials added that the developer’s money would also be used to enhance play facilities for children in the Lodge Lane area.

A council spokesman said: “Persimmon Homes has offered the £353,489 for the enhancement of sports facilities at Lodge Lane.

“It’s to replace the facilities that used to be at the college site and it is part of the application for homes as well.

“Members will make a decision on Monday and the recommendation is to grant permission.”

It has also been revealed that Sport England is satisfied with the proposal and the council’s leisure services department back the proposed financial contribution.

Dominic Harman, managing director of Persimmon Homes West Midlands, said: “Our reserved matters planning application for the former Bridgnorth College site will be discussed at the planning committee on Monday and, due to extensive pre-consultation with the local planning authority, we are hopeful this application will receive a positive outcome.

“We are planning to provide housing on the former disused tennis courts however, as part of the planning application’s section 106 agreement, and in addition to a significant amount of affordable housing, we will also contribute a substantial amount of money to fund a range of facilities including two tennis courts, sports facilities and a play area, for the benefit of the local community.”

The application will be discussed at Bridgnorth District Council’s development control meeting on Monday at the Westgate offices.

The meeting will start at 6.30pm.