1,400-home plans for Shrewsbury: Consultation planned for huge housing scheme

A consultation meeting will be taking place later this month on proposals to build up to 1,400 new homes on fields in Shrewsbury.

Developer CEP wants to build the homes on a large piece of land to the southwest of the town, between Mytton Oak Road and the A488 Hanwood Road to the east of the A5.

The area is listed as another of Shrewsbury’s sustainable urban extensions - large housing developments as already seen created to the south of Oteley Road.

The Shrewsbury South West Urban Extension is a scheme made up of three separate parcels of land from different developers.

CEP has previously said its part of the site could accommodate between 1,200 and 1,400 homes.

The firm has arranged a fresh consultation event to take place later this month.

CEP said the event would provide details on how its plans have developed.

An update on the Shrewsbury South West website states: “The consultation will provide information about how the proposals for the CEP element of southwest Shrewsbury have progressed and connect and interact with the wider area.

“It will also provide details of the feedback received during the first consultation process and how this, following discussions with the relevant authorities, has been taken into account as part of the latest masterplan.”

The consultation will take place from 4pm to 8pm on Tuesday, July 14, at Bowbrook Primary School.

The information and feedback forms will also be available online from July 10.

Matt Rhodes, senior planning manager said on behalf of CEP: "Following the consultation event we held last year, we have been reviewing the feedback and liaising with Shropshire Council to discuss key elements including education, sports and recreation and design and are now holding a feedback consultation via the website and at a drop in event.

"This will share more information about the updates including the additional space for education, the reconfiguration of the local centre and the new community facilities it can provide, specific proposals for allotments and details of the green spaces, play areas and playing pitches and changing space for example."

A document provided with last year’s consultation on the scheme said: “The Shrewsbury South West Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE) has been identified by Shropshire Council as a suitable and sustainable location for a new community comprising new homes, amenities, services and a variety of public open spaces and recreation areas.

“The SUE is formed by three separate land parcels and landowners.”

‘Characterful mix of houses’

It added: “The site provides an opportunity to address the significant need for new homes within Shropshire. Delivering a strategic urban extension on the edge of the county’s largest settlement provides the opportunity to fund and deliver new infrastructure such as bus services, education, healthcare provision, leisure and recreation opportunities and improvements to the existing highway network.”

The documents from last year’s consultation detailed plans for a “characterful mix of houses”, saying there would be “types and sizes for all, including affordable, family, specialist and elderly accommodation, providing a balanced community in a well-designed and landscaped setting”.

It added: “This will include homes to help young people access the housing ladder in Shrewsbury.”

The plans also outlined money toward local schools to pay for the impact of the increase in pupils - along with space for shops, and a doctors or pharmacy space.

The plan stated there would be “financial contributions towards nursery, primary and secondary education provision as required to cater for the increase in pupils in the area arising from the proposed development”.

It added that “these would be determined through discussions with the local education authority”.

Referencing health provision it added: “Space will be provided within the local centre for doctors, dentist and/or pharmacy space.

“In terms of primary healthcare provision ultimately this will be a decision for the Integrated Care Board (ICB) and both the ICB and NHS will be consulted as part of the application process and financial contributions or space provision agreed.”