Shrewsbury expansion plans are unveiled

Almost 300 homes and money towards the creation of a new link road that could eventually pave the way for the North West Relief Road form part of the proposals.

It is also intended a new hotel, restaurant/pub, petrol station and three hectares of employment land would be created on the outskirts of town on land off Welshpool Road.

But a residents' group has raised concerns initial plans lack provision for sports facilities or a possible new secondary school.

The outline application from David Wilson Homes and Jennings Estates is the first to be submitted following the agreement of a development masterplan for western Shrewsbury by Shropshire Council, which will see up to 750 homes built on the edge of town in the next few years.

If outline planning permission is granted, applications would be required on specific elements of the scheme. It is intended development would take place on almost 24 hectares of greenfield land at Churncote, off Welshpool Road, Bicton Heath.

A design and access statement in support of the plans prepared by RPS Planning & Development and BBLB Architects said 297 homes and public open space would be created as part of the proposals.

The properties would be a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom homes, with 45 affordable houses part of the site.

David Kilby, from the Shrewsbury West Residents' Group, said the organisation was concerned the proposals do not deliver sufficiently on social infrastructure.

"The emphasis of the plan is seemingly towards the provision of high-density housing, petrol service stations, hotels, pubs and restaurants, rather than key social facilities to meet the needs of young people, like a new secondary school, safe transport routes or indoor sporting and recreational facilities, as well as identifying the social needs of the predominantly ageing population which could be reflected better in the design and type of housing proposed," he said.

The design and access statement said a financial contribution will be made towards the eventual creation of the Oxon Link Road. The intended link road between the A5 bypass and Holyhead Road could act as a leg of a possible future NWWR.

A proposed NWWR was dropped in 2011 due to a lack of cash, but the idea remains an aspiration from the council. It would create a four-mile bypass from Churncote island west of Shrewsbury to the roundabout on Ellesmere Road.