Ruyton-XI-Towns developer says it cannot pay promised cash

Wednesday 14th December 2011, 10:59AM GMT.

The developer behind plans to build 80 new homes in a village near Oswestry today said that it could no longer afford to hand over £700,000 for the benefit of the community.

Pentons Haulage was granted planning permission to build the homes at its former headquarters, in Ruyton-XI-Towns, four years ago but says the economic climate means the plans as they stand are not viable.

As part of the planning permission, Shropshire Council insisted the company sign a legal agreement promising to pay funds towards road improvements, a recreation area, a new classroom at the village school and cash towards secondary education in Baschurch.

Pentons has now applied to a special meeting of the council’s planners tomorrow for a new, five-year planning consent to cut the amount from £700,000 to just over £500,000.

It has offered to contribute £250,000 towards education provision, provide £232,000 towards public open spaces and £25,000 for highway improvements.

And it has also asked that just 13 per cent of the houses be affordable homes, rather than the current 25 per cent requirement.

The parish council says the reduced sum would be inadequate as it does not meet the needs of an increase in population.

A report to the meeting says: “At the time planning permission was granted in 2007 the property market was buoyant and there was no reason to doubt the financial viability of the scheme.”