Plan for 750 homes near Shrewsbury a step closer
A controversial masterplan to build 750 homes in the west of Shrewsbury over the next 15 years is likely to move a major step closer today, despite some public opposition.
Shropshire Council's cabinet is set to recommend the adoption of the Shrewsbury West Sustainable Urban Extension at a meeting taking place this afternoon.
The proposals include the development of 750 homes, up to 12 hectares of employment land and a new Oxon Link Road between the A5 Bypass and the Holyhead Road.
Members of the cabinet are being asked to recommend that the council adopts the masterplan for the purposes of guiding future development in the west of the town.
But more than three-quarters of people who took part in a public consultation during July and September said they were not in favour. Of the 154 people who answered, 119 said they did not agree with the development objectives.
A report by RPS Planning & Development on behalf of the council, which is going to today's cabinet meeting, said despite opposition, the area has already been identified as a "strategic location for development".
It said: "During the consultation many people used the response form as an opportunity to object to the very principle of development at Shrewsbury West, citing their opinion on the lack of local infrastructure and questioning the overall need for development at this location.
"While a number of the points raised in this context are important in their own right, the Shropshire Core Strategy is an adopted development plan which has been subject to significant public consultation during its preparation.
"The document has also been subject to independent examination and found to be sound, robust and fully justified.
"In this context, the level of development proposed at this location, including the provision of the Oxon Link Road, is already established."
Last month, members of the Shrewsbury West Residents Association asked Shropshire Council for an extra 16 weeks to be added to the consultation period after collecting a petition of more than 1,000 signatures.
But councillors refused the request, stating that the original consultation period had already been extended by a further five weeks.
