Joy as homes bid blocked

Campaigners against a controversial housing development in north Shropshire were celebrating today after collecting about 600 signatures for a petition and learning that the bid has hit a stumbling block after councillors objected.

Market Drayton Town Council last night refused to support Base Architecture's bid to build 57 homes on Banky and Orchard Fields, off Walkmill Road.

About 30 members of the public, many of whom have joined a protest group called Market Drayton South Residents' Group, attended the planning committee meeting last night.

They saw town councillors reject the plan by a majority vote. A final decision now rests with Shropshire Council, which will consider the bid at a future meeting.

Steve Dourish, spokesman for the campaigners, said today: "At a local level this scheme has been rejected, which is encouraging for our members who have concerns about access and suitability of the development. At the moment we are collating the results of our petition, but we think it's in the region of 600 names."

The multi-million pound housing development was first mooted this year when developer Base Architecture, acting on behalf of Market Drayton businessman Andrew Davies, unveiled its plans for the 1.8-hectare site.

Under the plans, a mixture of three and four-bedroom detached, semi-detached and terraced houses would be built, as well as new road access, an estate wall and estate roads.

Developers have previously said the project would be "fantastic" for the town by tackling a need for housing without affecting other residential areas.

They claim the scheme would create 150 jobs in the economy during a two-year construction programme - a claim rejected by protesters. The developer anticipates the homes would range in price from £150,000 to £199,000.

This year developers held a public consultation on the plans, attended by as many as 100 people.

By Tom Johannsen