Go-ahead urged on plans for 26 homes near Shrewsbury

Shropshire Council officers have recommended the application for 26 homes at Bicton Heath, near Shrewsbury, be given the go-ahead at a meeting on Thursday.

The Shropshire Homes Ltd plans are subject to a section 106 agreement which would see the developers pay £34,200 towards off-site affordable housing.

The plans are part of the overall Shrewsbury West Sustainable Urban Extension (SWSUE) which could see up to 720 homes, a new local centre and about 12 hectares of employment land created in the area.

About 80 residents had initially signed an online petition over the development, as well as starting a Facebook campaign, after stating that rows of historic hedgerow around Corner Farm Drive would be lost.

But following a new consultation just three objections have been received after Shropshire Homes bosses agreed to retain the hedge.

In a report council officer Tim Rogers said the homes proposal would "safeguard local amenity".

The report added: "The proposal is considered to represent a sustainable form of development which has been designed to a high quality, using sustainable design principles which respect and enhance local distinctiveness and mitigate and adapt to climate change.

"The proposal will therefore protect and conserve the natural, built and historic environment, taking into account the local context and character of the local area and safeguarding residential and local amenity.

"The scheme proposes appropriate landscaping, vehicular, pedestrian access and car parking provision together with on-site affordable units and contributions towards off-site affordable housing."

Developers maintain the site has good local amenities, with nearby bus stops in Gains Park Way, two local shopping centres, Oxon Primary School and the hospitals and business park.

Members of the council's central planning committee will debate the application on Thursday afternoon.