Shropshire Star

Bridgnorth homes plan rejected as an overdevelopment

A controversial plan to build 27 homes in Bridgnorth has been rejected after councillors said it would be an "overdevelopment" of the land.

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The proposals for St Stephen's Place were submitted by the Bridgnorth Housing Trust, which says it has a waiting list of people needing accommodation.

But the proposals faced strong opposition by local residents who said they had not been consulted.

During a public discussion on the plans at a yesterday's meeting of Shropshire Council's south planning committee, Anthony Shaw, of Pale Meadow Road, which borders the proposed development, said: "As Bridgnorth Housing Trust seeks approval for one of the biggest projects in its 400-year history, the most pressing question today is, why hasn't it consulted homeowners?"

Robert Davies, from the housing trust, told councillors it had been advised by its agents that it did not need to consult residents. He added: "We currently have a waiting list of 55 people and no properties.

"This would be an extension of the existing 44 homes we already own in St Stephen's Place."

However, councillors raised concerns about the style of the development and its closeness to neighbouring homes in Bridgnorth's conservation area.

Councillor Christian Lea, who represents Bridgnorth East and Astley Abbots, said: "This will stick out like a blot on the landscape.

"Is this the view we want visitors to Bridgnorth seeing in the future?

"Rather than designing the site beginning with the boundaries and working inwards, why don't they start in the centre and work outwards.

"I appreciate there has got to be housing on this site at some point."

Councillor Robert Tindall said: "I think this is the wrong kind of design in the wrong kind of place.

"It is too overbearing."

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