Countryside housing schemes fail to get backing of Shropshire planners

At a meeting of Shropshire Council's Central Planning Committee, two schemes, one at Condover and the other at Plealey, near Shrewsbury, were both refused permission.

Morris Property had applied for permission to build on land east of Station Road in Condover.

A previous application had been rejected in October but the applicant had submitted revised plans which would have seen the building of 47 homes, including seven affordable properties, a classroom, a car park and an enlarged school playing field.

There would also have been allotments, a village green and an informal open space.

But despite the applicant claiming the land was of little agricultural use, members of the committee heard that since February, the land had been grazed and two crops grown on it.

The committee, which met at Shirehall, also heard that the local community did not want and had not requested allotments and neither were they in favour of the proposed development.

Villager John Casewell said: "There is no support for this development. The double class room should be met by the local authority, not a developer."

David Lane, speaking for Condover Parish Council said: "The land is very good and good grade arable land. The community doesn't want to see this type of development."

Councillor Peter Nutting urged fellow committee members to refuse the application on the grounds that it failed to satisfy any sustainable need and that it was not needed economically, socially or environmentally.

Members voted to refuse the application.

A second scheme was for land south of Plealey Lane in Longden, where developers hope to build 35 homes and re-site the school's football pitch, extend the school's car park and make new school access.

Again committee members were told that the local community did not want the development and the school did not welcome the proposed alterations.

Councillor Roger Evans said: "This application came out of the blue. The school is almost full, access at this site is restricted and is not sustainable for this sort of development."

Councillor Andrew Bannerman added: "There is a kind of thoughtless feel to this. The school is going to be submerged by this development. What is a rural school will disappear."

Once again members of the committee voted unanimously against the application.