Affordable housing proposal near Shrewsbury thrown out
A proposed housing development near Shrewsbury has been thrown out amid claims of a 'disturbing' lack of consultation with local people.
Members of Shropshire Council's central planning committee agreed to reject the plans for 12 affordable homes on land east of Merrington Road, in Bomere Heath, at a meeting yesterday.
Concerns had already been raised about raw sewage flooding homes in the Brook Road area.
And Bomere Heath Parish Council had objected due to a lack of consultation on the available sites.
Members listed four official reasons for the refusal – stating flooding and drainage issues, local views not being taken into account, an inappropriate and unsuitable location and that it was not suitable for a sustainable form of development.
It was the fourth time councillors had discussed the matter at Shirehall, with developers Severnside Housing Association maintaining the new estate would be serviced by a different drainage system to the affected houses in Brook Road.
Andrew Bannerman, councillor for Quarry and Coton Hill, said: " We've had a lot of evidence presented to us and it is far from vague, generalised or inaccurate as mentioned in the report and I'm surprised we've been invited to reconsider this yet again. Overall there seems to have been a disturbing lack of consultation with the parish council and I feel it should be again turned down."
Councillor John Everall said it wasn't a natural extension to the village and that residents would be forced to use their cars to reach the centre of Bomere Heath creating a 'considerable' increase in traffic. He said: "I've not met a single person in Bomere Heath that isn't concerned about this."
But Shropshire Councillor Liz Parsons, the only member to vote in favour of the plans, warned that the committee's reasons for refusing it were tenuous. She said: " I feel if we go down this road we could be vulnerable to a further appeal."
