Ludlow 137 homes plan: Public inquiry inspector to visit site

The visit forms part of a four-day public inquiry into Shropshire Council's refusal of the homes, in the Foldgate area on the south east edge of the town, which is set to conclude tomorrow.

This week has seen objectors give evidence against the plans before government planning inspector Cullum Parker, who is considering an appeal by developer Richborough Estates, stating the planning application should not have been turned down.

Shropshire Council officers refused the houses, for fields between the A49 main road and the railway line near Foldgate Lane, stating the development was on a greenfield site outside the development boundary and the county already had enough sites to build on for Ludlow's housing quota for the next five years.

Richborough Estates argues Shropshire Council's five-year plan does not have the housing it needs to fulfil national quotas, which it believes the Foldgate development would help it meet. Inspector Cullum's visit will include the 17th century Grade II listed farmhouse and barn at Foldgate Farm, where Richard Maddicott and his family run a holiday letting business.

Building the controversial housing estate next to the A49 would cause more accidents, objectors told the public inquiry.

Traffic concerns over the building of 137 homes in the Foldgate area on the edge of Ludlow were debated on the second day of a planning inspector's inquiry into Shropshire Council's refusal of the development.

Objectors to the scheme insist the project would create danger on the A49 bypass and also have an impact on the narrow country road, Foldgate Lane, that it would link to.

But Christopher Young, for developer Richborough Estates, said there had been no objections from Highways England, which is responsible for the A49, and the link with Foldgate Lane would be looked at as part of the normal planning process if the development went ahead.

Bernard North, a retired highways engineer who lives in neighbouring Steventon Road, said the A49 through Shropshire was known to be a dangerous road prone to accidents, often fatal.

"Barely a week has passed without an accident of some kind occuring on this carriageway," he said.

He said a T-junction, like the one planned to link the estate onto the A49 bypass, would be "extremely hazardous and will certainly result in an accident possibly leading to a death or serious injury."

He said that if there had to be a new junction it should be a roundabout.

Chris Woodcock, a retired civil engineer who lives in nearby Greenacres, said the development would have a disastrous effect on Foldgate Lane.

However, Christopher Young said that Shropshire Council would look at practical solutions around Foldgate Lane as a normal part of the development process, as more detailed plans were laid out following the granting of outline permission.

He also disputed Mr North's opinion that the access onto the A49 would be dangerous, saying there had been lengthy dialogue with Highways England.

"Highways England is always rigorous in the standards it applies. It will be at their door that people will ask questions about this junction," he said.

The four-day inquiry continues.