Ludlow St Laurence’s Church homes plan backed
Friday 18th February 2011, 7:42PM GMT.
Controversial plans to build five luxury homes in the shadow of an 800-year-old Shropshire church which sparked more than 250 objections have been approved by county planners.
The homes behind 9-10 King Street, Ludlow, next to St Laurence’s Church, got the go-ahead by just one vote at a heated meeting of Shropshire Council’s strategic planning committee yesterday.
And work could start on site as early as summer, says developer Andrew Sheldon of St Laurence Homes.
More than 120 people packed into Ludlow Assembly Rooms for the meeting, while a further 30 had to listen through speakers on the stairs in the corridor.
The plans had been rejected by Shropshire Council’s south planning committee on January 26 before the issue was referred to the strategic committee.
But councillors yesterday overturned the decision, claiming the principle of developing homes had already been set by an independent planning inspector assessing a previous, similar application for the site during a public inquiry in 2006.
The move was welcomed by Mr Sheldon. But campaigners, including members of St Laurence’s Parochial Church Committee, Ludlow Civic Society and Ludlow Town Council, have pledged to meet over the next few days to decide their next move.
It has been claimed the development could damage the church’s foundations and potentially disturb graves.
Jeffrey Wilcox, speaking on behalf of Ludlow Town Council at the meeting, said: “Ludlow is a gem that draws in thousands of people from across the world. Councillors should consider the impact of their decision on Ludlow and the legacy it will leave to future generations.”
But Councillor Mansel Williams, sitting on the strategic planning committee, said he believed councillors had no option but to approve as the inspector had already made an “ultimate judgment” on the site.
By Peter Kitchen
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re the Readers House Planning Application Approval – HOW DARE THEY GO AHEAD WITH THIS SCHEME – this is ridiculous – how can something so sensitive be decided by just ‘one winning vote’ – surely there should be another assessment/re-count when its so close?? as I for one did not even know of this meeting until I read it in the paper – by which time it was too late to attend – how many other full-time working Ludlovians/working parents did the same???
THIS IS SO SAD FOR THis HISTORIC TOWN AND ST LAWRENCES CHURCH & GROUNDS – why can’t planners see the damage they are doing with all this madness – why should valuable heritage sites be rampaged and violated. It is only greed and it should not be allowed.
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i thought i had written a thread about this disgraceful decision..when living in ludlow 50 years ago i witnessed shropshire and shrewsbury councillors arrange for developers to rip apart the heart of medieval shrewsbury. i for one do not wish to see the same happen in my beloved ludlow.
the local mp’s silence on this matter appears deafening. is he for it or against. i think we should be told.
when built these new properties will block light on the superb stained glass windows of the east end of one of the finest parish churches in the country
here let me declare an interest, i was educated at ludlow grammar school, whose founder the palmers guild are celebrated in these soon to be blighted stained glass windows.
what should happen next, well the secretary of state for the environment , defra, should call the plans in for reconsideration. but we need ludlovians to lobby defra, involve our mp if he is interested and generally make as much fuss and noise about these plans.
the worst you can all do up there is roll over and let it happen
from a proud old ludlovian in deepest devon.
rocky russell ol, cpt 1954
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Luxury Homes…and for whom are these required or necessary…plenty of ‘luxury homes’ available still unsold in the area? What a disgraceful decision.Another example of ‘infill’ cramming quart into pint pot for the sake of the greedy pocket.We will support you Ludlovians even though we are just over the border…St Laurence needs it’s space around it to appreciate it’s majesty.DON’T LET IT HAPPEN!
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many thanks obbis, it is a disgraceful decision. even on access alone, ignoring the desecration of ludlow’s medieval centre, every brick, bag of cement scaffolding pole, and all other building supplies will have to be transported by wheel barrow or hoist.
how much traffic delay will there be while loads of lorries unload.
the main point at issue is the effect on 2 listed buildings, the readers house and st lawrence parish church.
an evil decision taken by a council planning department with no thought given to the many centuries of peace and quiet in a most restricted area. the developers and planners should be ashamed.
it is high time defra called these plans in for reconsideration. it is obvious shropshire council planners are incapable of learning from their cretinous decision.
what a shame the descendents of the palmers guild are not around to defend this site or are they?
ludlows old victorian town hall now demolished was once called ludlows bad luck, now ludlows new luxury homes may be about to take on this mantle.
this development must never be allowed to proceed
rocky russell ol. cpt 1954
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