Go-ahead for 400 homes in Market Drayton despite fears

Shropshire councillors granted planning permission for two applications for sites in the town, one for up to 250 homes off Greenfields Lane put forward by Danbank Developments and another for up to 162 homes either side of Rush Lane proposed by Gladman Developments.

Reports by planning officers to the council's north planning committee said both developments would be built in "sustainable" locations.

They said the sites benefited from the facilities, services and infrastructure offered by the market town and would provide additional housing supply in accord with national planning policy priorities.

The applications brought 470 objections from residents including members of the Rush Lane Action Group.

Sandra Kiessling, for the group, said: "The development is infringing on property rights as all owners of private property along Rush Lane own a third of the land reaching into the bridleway.

"Rush Lane has been and still is a bridleway/public footpath."

She said local pumping stations already overflowed with sewage being washed into the streets and there were also flooding worries both sides of the A53.

"Schools are overcrowded and the medical practice is full," she said.

Councillor Paul Wynn said the land had been put forward as a site for development by the town council while Market Drayton councillor John Cadwallader said: "This is going to be the development area for Market Drayton up to and probably beyond 2026.

"It is better to have a comprehensive plan for the development rather than piecemeal development."

Councillors said that they were in favour of the two developments, provided they were served by just one access.

They also said there must be a condition that the development be served by a roundabout built on the A53 and not a T-junction.

Following Tuesday's meeting, Councillor Tim Beckett, mayor of Market Drayton, said: "Unfortunately it is another case of, as town councillors, we fight for the residents of the town but get overruled at a higher level.

"I understand we have to provide housing for future generations but we do have unused building land around the town that could be used up first without us having to use the Rush Lane area.

"However, individual plots of land don't appeal to the developers as they make more money building a load of houses in one area which they have now been granted."