Cressage could double in size under housing plans
Wednesday 30th June 2010, 11:56AM BST.
The village of Cressage could more than double in size under plans to meet tough government housing targets – sparking fears from residents that there would be “too much development”.
Villagers are concerned that Cressage, near Shrewsbury, will not be able to cope.
It comes as a separate scheme to build 23 homes, a play area and new roads in the north Shropshire village of Woore, near Market Drayton, was thrown out by councillors at a meeting yesterday.
Cressage’s new status could signal a period of significant development for the village as Shropshire Council works to deliver its new Local Development Framework.
But residents have slammed the plans as being unsuitable for the village.
Claire Wild, Shropshire Council ward member for Severn Valley, said: “I feel it would be way too much development for Cressage as do a number of local residents.
Concerned
“A number of larger villages have been put forward for development and villagers are concerned about it. The general consensus is that it is way too much.”
Shropshire Council’s site allocations document identifies sites for various types of development and sets out further detailed policies to guide future development in Shropshire up to 2026.
Councillor Wild said plans for housing in Telford & Wrekin had recently been scaled back from 28,000 homes to 21,000 and she wondered if proposals for Shropshire might also be reduced.
The framework is currently for 28,500 homes.
Other villages earmarked for significant expansion include Cross Houses, Condover and Dorrington, all near Shrewsbury.
But in Woore plans by developer Wainhomes to build off Candle Lane were thrown out by members of Shropshire Council’s north planning committee last night.
Following objections from Woore Parish Council and 24 residents, councillors refused the scheme.
The application had been recommended for approval but councillors ignored the advice of officers and bowed to public concerns over the scheme.
By Emma Kasprzak and Tom Johannsen
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This is not true any more. There are NO government targets as they have now been scrapped by the new regime.
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yes but the demand is still there from the people who want houses and the developers who want to build them, so the market will still force this through not the government
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Go to:
http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageId=11610230
for the details
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Nigel, the country still needs a lot more new houses, due to both a rising population and replacing older housing, including in Shropshire. Of course that doesn’t mean they should all be built in Cressage! We should be building to higher densities (townhouses basically) within existing settlement boundaries, instead of extending the vast suburban sprawls which cover an increasing amount of space in this country.
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Ideally they should be built near places of employment – reducing car travel etc. Cressage is hardly a major manufacturing centre.
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I do not dispute the need for more houses – what I take exception to is the assertion that Shropshire Council are meeting a Government Target (which now does not exist). In other words they, the Council, need to take responsibility for their action(s) and decisions, rather than hiding behind the Government!
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this is far too OTT shropshrie is being ruined by modern construction which is out of charactter – lets convert more old and derelict buildings instead such as the flaxmill and more rural barn conversions please
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Given the demography of the flax mill. What do you propose it be turned into? Somewhere for the youth to hang out perhaps? That would save the substance misuse team a fortune in traveling expenses.
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The new govt is saying all sorts of things to make it sound like the last one got everything wrong so take what thet say with a ‘pinch of salt!’
I hope that if there is to be a large increase of dwellings in Cressage that they will be of the great design and quality of the new millennium village in Ketley.
The newer development in Cressage from the 1970s is of a nice quality and design.
We really really need a housing standard to be re-instated so that developers cannot get away with such small rooms,low ceilings, lack of storage and outdoor space.
Ever since Mrs Thatcher did away with building standards in 1980, houses have got smaller and smaller and are not adequate for our future needs. (our children are getting steadily taller)
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What new employment opportunities are driving population growth in Cressage ? I didn’t realise it had that much industry.
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It is considered commutable pat,as has Much Wenlock for years which has driven up housing values phenomenally.
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People in villages such as Cressage and the small town of Much Wenlock are really between a rock and a hard place.
There needs to be affordable housing for younger people, first-time buyers and social housing for those who can’t afford a mortgage, but want to stay. If this is not addressed then people leave the villages for bigger built-up areas not out of choice and the life-bllod of the village begins to die and lose it’s community feel.
The existing housing that is available is mainly too expensive and social housing is non-existent. The only time when housing does become available on mass will be as the elderley pass away, however, their properties will no doubt be expensive too and require updating in 9 out of 10 instances.
What are the residents of the village or small town to do? Accept that new affordable housing stock is required? Or join the NIMBY brigade, ignore the issues and watch the slow decay?
Sticking one’d head in the sand and ignoring the real need for new affordable housing is not the solution. Then again, neither is the Star’s sensational headlines at times.
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But ‘Observer’, if additional housing is built incomers and commuters will ALWAYS be able to outbid the local young people.
There is no point at which the supply will outstrip demand from outside the area and reduce prices to affordable levels.
The only solution is to build social housing limited to people already living and working in the area, if you think the market needs to be distorted in this way.
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But “Pat” surely there should be rules whereby only people who have lived in the village for the past three/five years may apply for social housing.
Also people will always commute from Cressage and the likes, that is the way life is if you want to stay where you live and have a good job.
Whether it is to your liking or not, this is happening all across the country due to the increase in the population. Hence, smaller towns/villages are becoming part of a “greater” town or district.
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“this is happening all across the country due to the increase in the population
There are plenty of empty houses and brownfield sites – it just people dont want to live where the housing is. looking at our squalid and violent inner cities I’m not surprised frankly
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Do you think the quality of life for the local people should be degraded to accomodate people moving into the area who are then going to commute back out every day ? Bridgnorth’s got this problem too – we’re turning into a dormitory town for Telford/West Midlands commuters
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Who said anything about degrading the quality of life in Cressage?
The houses built in the 1970s must have increased the size of the village hugely but did not degraded the community.
This is where people get it wrong, it’s no good fighting change or new development because it will happen. What is needed is that you fight for good quality design and insist on higher standards that more often than not developers try to resist, to increase their profits.
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This is absolutely spot on Eva. People need to work with developers and the planning system to achieve the best outcomes rather than just objecting to evrything just because it is different.
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“This is where people get it wrong, it’s no good fighting change or new development because it will happen”
So when will it stop ? Can we go on allowing ‘development’ until every green field is housing, every bit of woodland has been destroyed ?
We have to fight now , otherwise it’ll be too late. Every little bit of sprawl is lost countryside we’ll never get back.
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You need to remember things in persepctive Pat. Not every green field will be built upon, a hard job when Shropshire is 80% rural. But housing is needed in areas where a small minority will object. What was the land your home is built on before? I bet the people a the time might have objected, God forbid eh?
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I think the developemnet of the late 60′s early 70′s changed cressage for ever as it did in most villages . However the houses will be built where ever most will be affordable rent lets face it who under 40 now can afford a mortgage?? not many it seems .
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So when will it stop ? Can we go on allowing ‘development’ until every green field is housing, every bit of woodland has been destroyed?
Land that has been developed can return to being green. Look at Burr’s field in Shrewsbury, a Lead factory in the 19th century
now a recreational space.
What I am saying pat is pointlessly opposing new development means that the real tragedy is …. what gets built, does not get addressed.
You have attractive new development in Cressage,remember not everyone wants to live in what can be pretty but rather poky timber-framed cottages.
If new housing is considered to be acceptable by planners in a specific area then give power to their elbow by demanding a high standard of quality and design. This will help to future proof the area from being degraded.
Find out about what makes good design,find out what ‘Homezone’ is all about and keep an open mind to styles of housing. Pretend victorian/georgian is not the only option.
See what eco credentials are going to be included.I have seen housing association dwellings in Craven Arms that do not need to use their radiators. For our children’s benefit that is going to be a must with energy costs continuing to rise.
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One thing that is always missed by those outspoken over any development is this, what do you think was there before your house was built?
Difficult decisions will need to be made but also ask yourself this question.
In order to stop building of new homes, are you prepared to have someone lodge in your spare room in preference to them kipping on a sofa somewhere?
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“what do you think was there before your house was built”
(FWIW -My flat was built in about 1880, before that it was marshland near Hounslow Heath)
Obviously the houses we all live in have been built on green field sites originally, right from the year dot. That’s avoiding the issue – when do we STOP building ? When do we say enough is enough? Because the other option is to carry on until the whole country is suburb, apart from a few National Parks. A vision of hell.
It’s all very well sitting in smug Shropshire thinking we’ve got ‘plenty’ of space left. From my location on the outskirts of London I can tell you we haven’t – pretty much all the available sites are built on and the towns and cities are starting to merge
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Simon , there are plenty of empty homes in the UK (The Empty Homes Agency figures show >650,000 empty homes in England in 2009)
http://www.emptyhomes.com/usefulresources/stats/statistics.html
There are also plenty of disused commercial properties and brownfield sites available. Trouble is people aspire to live in more rural “unspoilt” areas (and by doing so spoil them..)
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So what is wrong in being aspirational?
Like I say what do you think was there before your home was built, a case of I’m alright Jack if ever there was one.
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Nothing wrong with being aspirational – but should we allow peoples ‘aspirations’ to dictate planning policy ? Lots of city dwellers high on “Escape to the Country” demanding more and more housing until England is semi-continuous sprawl ?
If people want to move to Shropshire fair enough, but don’t build any more houses to accomodate them. Plenty on the market already.. If people can’t afford the houses they should either lower their sights, or move to where they CAN afford a house. That’s what I had to do.
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And what about the people who have been brought up in the village Pat and want to stay?
Have they got to lower their sights or move to an area they would rather not move to? Just so people like yourself have their precious “green space” preserved.
You have a very narrow-minded view Pat, not everyone would like to do what you had to do. Plus, what are you saying? did you have to lower your sights to move where you live? I believe it is known as “the pot calling the kettle black!”.
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The question still hasn’t been answered, what do you think was there before your house?
I agree potential residents should not dictate planning policy, the problem is these city dwellers as you put it have brought cash into the county and we all know how money talks.
In lots of cases people have moved out of the cities because they can move into the countryside get a bigger home at a premium and then buy the longed for E-type they would otherwise never have afforded; meanwhile Jonny Farmer who was born and raised in the area is immediately priced out of the market and looks for a home at a reasonable price but can’t find one because nobody wants homes of an affordable nature near to theirs for either fear that the value of their house will drop or ‘you can’t build there, it’s a green field site’, so the vicious circle starts all over again.
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I would be amazed if anything on this scale was built during the next 20 years given the economic situation.
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Let’s pray that’s the case :-)
The only long term solutions are;
1)Utilise empty properties
2)Discourage second home ownership – through taxation, and making it socially unacceptable
3)Only allow new build on genuine brownfield sites (not back gardens)
4)Target housing development where there is a genuine need created by local industry /employment – don’t accomodate commuters.
– and finally , most importantly
5) Get our population under control. England is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. 62 million is too many, 70 million will be a social and environmental disaster.We need to stabilise then get the population down to a more reasonable 40 million or so. Have a look at the Optimum Population Trust website
http://www.optimumpopulation.org/
- it CAN be done without any Draconian measures. OPT is supported by environmentalist and scientists such as Sir David Attenborough and Dr James Lovelock.
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So reducing the population from 62 to 40 million is a realistic target Pat? How is a 33% reduction achieveable and what would the timescales be? bearing in mind continued births and people living longer. Or are you suggesting we copy the Chinese model and only allow 1 child per couple? Close the borders and have a cull on the over 70′s?
Eutopia doesn’t exist, we can all have ideas but realising achieveable one’s is the key!
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Have a read of the OPT website, it’s all in there. No ‘culls’…just common sense
Timescales could be tens of years, but the benefits would start arriving pretty quickly : no housing shortages, less overcrowding on public transport, cleaner and more pleasant urban areas, generally a better quality of life.
Encouraging people to ‘stop at two’ children would be a good start.
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