Ludlow garden store supported as plan goes back before councillors
A garden equipment centre on derelict land near Ludlow town centre's gateway is recommended to go ahead after controversial plans were revised.
The plans by Morris Bufton for a store on Lower Galdeford, Ludlow, have been revised for a third time and will go before Shropshire Council's south planning committee for a final decision at a Shirehall meeting on Tuesday .
Ludlow Town Council objected to the previous two designs, saying the store would be out of keeping with the area and too big for the site.
Shropshire Council's conservation team labelled the original proposal, which included a steel roof, "jarringly obtrusive" and "damaging to the character of the area" but have not commented upon the newly-revised plans.
The store is planned opposite Smithfield car park, between the town's telephone exchange and the former South Shropshire Glass building, on a main route from the A49 bypass to the town centre.
Andy Boddington, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow North and a member of the south planning committee, said: "It is common for developers to revise their plans after submitting them to Shropshire Council for approval.
"This allows the developer to take on board early comments, especially from experts within the council. This application though, has been revised more than most.
"This is the third set of plans for the Lower Galdeford site, the fourth if a revision of plans for the boundary wall is included.
"The principle of the development remains the same.
"A new retail unit will be built alongside the existing building, formerly South Shropshire Glass.
"It will be accessed via the new entrance. The stone wall will be rebuilt with iron railing rising from ground level behind the wall."
The currently incomplete stone wall was a previous sticking point with Ludlow Town Council, whose members felt it should be rebuilt traditionally, rather than in brick as originally proposed.
In May, Gina Wilding, town clerk, said Ludlow Town Council objected to the plans.
She said at the time: "Members objected because the building is oversized for the plot, and the siting and mass of the development are inappropriate.
"The oversized building extends beyond the existing building line and significantly reduces parking on the site."
Planning officers at Shropshire Council have recommended that the amended plans are given approval.
