150 homes set to be approved at former Shrewsbury college site

Shropshire Council's central planning committee will be asked to give the go-ahead to two applications from the owners of the college sites, The Radbrook Foundation and the council itself, at a meeting next Thursday.

The college, which was set up in 1898, had been used by Shrewsbury College of Arts and Technology up until last year when it decided to stop using the site.

Although the planning applications are of "outline" status, it is understood that the development would consist of around 127 houses and 20 flats – retaining the main section of the original Victorian college building.

The 10-acre development has previously been criticised by the National Playing Fields Association, which wanted a grass sports pitch and four netball and tennis courts to be retained for people living around the site.

There were 23 letters of objection to the Shropshire Council application and 20 to the foundation's application.

The suggested layout includes seven flats (in Walker House), 30 houses on the Shropshire Council site, and 96 houses and 13 flats (in the main college building) on the Radbrook Foundation site.

Shropshire Council's site is called the Radbrook Campus College Gardens, and the foundation's site is called the Radbrook Centre.

A planning report to go before councillors recommends the plans be approved.

Councillor Peter Nutting, of the planning committee, said today: "The plans will be looked at in detail and as long as they fit in with local plans there shouldn't be a problem. But we will be looking for a lot of open space within the site."

The planning report says it is expected that both sites will be sold together for one development.

The planning report says concerns have been raised by residents over the access.

However, Shropshire Council's highways officers have no objections. In recommending the applications for approval the report says it would make good use of the site and its appearance would be acceptable.