Homes plans in three Shropshire villages approved

Shropshire Council's north planning committee approved proposals to create six homes in Harmer Hill, near Wem, nine homes in Selattyn and two homes in St Martins, both near Oswestry.

But the committee threw out plans to create six homes on a different site in Selattyn as well as a proposal to create an access to the grounds of Plas Wilmot, in Weston Lane, Oswestry.

At the committee's meeting in Shirehall yesterday members also deferred applications to create up to 86 homes in Whitchurch and six homes on a different site in Harmer Hill.

Members recognised the importance of addressing Shropshire Council's shortfall in supplying land for housing, but said this could not be used as a reason to approve all housing applications.

Outline plans to create six homes on land adjacent to Orchard House, Wem Road, in Harmer Hill, were approved despite residents' concerns about access and sustainable.

An outline application to create nine homes on land east of The Old Rectory in Selattyn were approved despite residents' concerns that the village does not have the infrastructure to support the development.

But Councillor Gerald Dakin said: "There is a very generous offer of three affordable houses out of the nine.

"I think the houses can be positioned on there where it is not noticeable."

Outline plans to create two homes on land in St Martins Moor, St Martins, were also given the go ahead despite residents' concerns about traffic congestion and flooding.

But Councillor Vince Hunt said: "This is quite a nice little site and I don't think anyone has raised any issues why we shouldn't support it."

A scheme to create six homes east of Gyrn Road in Selattyn was thrown out by the committee following concerns that the development would dominate the skyline.

Councillor Steve Davenport said: "Without the five-year land supply issue, this application would never have got this far."

Plans to create an access to a housing development on the orchard, paddock and vegetable garden where Shropshire war poet Wilfred Owen played at soldiers as a small boy were refused.

Developers have already been granted outline planning permission to build seven homes in the grounds of Plas Wilmot, in Weston Lane, and had hoped to get permission for the access road.

But objectors claim that the private drive is not wide enough and doesn't have a pavement or street lights.

Councillor Arthur Walpole said: "The whole thing seems to be contrived to me."

Meanwhile, an outline scheme to create up to 86 homes on land in Tarporley Road, Whitchurch was deferred so committee members could go on a site visit.