Shropshire Star

Canal trust opposed to village homes bid near Market Drayton

A waterways trust has added its name to those objecting to plans to build nearly 100 homes in a village near Market Drayton.

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The Canal & River Trust has raised concerns that the development of up to 87 homes behind Moorsfield Avenue in Audlem will be "overbearing" on the environment.

The proposal, which has been put forward by applicant Plotbuild, has already received objections from residents and parish councillors.

These include concerns with general infrastructure, sewerage, extra road traffic and access on minor roads, secondary and primary school capacity, and the medical centre being unable to cope with extra patients.

Tim Bettany-Simmons, Canal & River Trust area planner, said: "The canal adjacent to the development site is designated as a conservation area. The openness of the canal-side visual envelope between Audlem locks number 13 and 14 is very important to the local waterway landscape character and conservation area as the canal passes through and enters Audlem.

"Based on the masterplan, the development would not conserve or enhance the character of the conservation area.

"The development would be overbearing and would adversely impact on our existing moorings and harm the setting of the canal corridor."

The trust has also raised concerns with access, drainage, ecology and lighting.

"The trust would not support public access from the development to the canal and instead would want to see public access prevented through the use of landscaping and appropriate boundary treatment," Mr Bettany-Simmons said.

"The importance of the adjacent canal corridor and associated boundary features for wildlife, namely commuting and foraging bats has been recognised by the applicant, with recommendations for a sensitive external lighting design along the canal-side boundary to ensure light spill does not adversely affect such species using this habitat.

"There are known bat roosts within the surrounding area and it is therefore important that these recommendations are implemented. Waterside lighting can lead to unnecessary glare and light pollution if it is not carefully designed."

The outline scheme features building a mixture of detached, semi-detached and self-build properties on grade three agricultural land on the western edge of the village.

The applicant says the development will create a "high quality sustainable" development, which will improve links to the canal frontage.

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