Ludlow quarry site homes plan moves a step closer

Councillors in Ludlow have welcomed the scheme for the historic Fishmore Road site north of the town centre.

Hopes to develop the brownfield site, once a hub of the local brick and tile manufacturing industry, have been in place since 2007, but stalled due to the recession in the years following. Now Willsgrove Developments has put preliminary plans before a Ludlow Town Council committee for consultation, though a formal planning application has yet to be made.

The plans are for an estate of homes around a central street, made up of 23 two-bedroom apartments, eight two-bedroom houses, 38 three-bedroom houses and five four-bedroom houses.

Andy Boddington, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow North, said councillors had been favourable towards the scheme.

He said: "Overall, this as a good and welcome scheme. This site needs to be developed and the sooner the better.

"I would prefer to develop brownfield eyesores like this than sprawl over green fields on the edge of town.

"It is better to have housing within walking distance of the town centre than at locations where a car is the first choice of transport."

The Fishmore Road works closed in 1948, but the exposed Raglan Mudstone that supported one of the town's major industries can still be seen on the site.

Though better known for medieval rather than industrial heritage, in Georgian and Victorian times Ludlow was a major manufacturer of tile and brick thanks to the geology of the area.

Last year, Willsgrove Developments asked Shropshire Council if an environmental impact assessment was needed to build on the site, which was the first indication it may finally be redeveloped after almost a decade in limbo.

County planners first backed outline proposals for 94 homes in 2007, but applicants Bovale Ltd never submitted a full planning application before the economic downturn arrived.

Outline permission was given and again renewed in 2011, but plans for the site had again gone quiet until now.

Willsgrove Developments plans to submit another "outline" application without details for the new scheme, but Councillor Boddington said he would ask them to consider pushing ahead to the next stage.

He said: "I think we could move straight towards discussing the details of the scheme through a full planning application."

He said there were some concerns to be ironed out, with a likely increase in traffic at the end of Fishmore Road, and increased risk to pedestrian and cyclist safety at the Bridge roundabout, which may need new crossings put in place.

He said he was also "troubled" by a lack of public open space or a play area as part of the preliminary plans.