Builders get go-ahead for 230-home scheme in Shrewsbury
Controversial plans to build more than 200 homes in Shrewsbury have been given the go-ahead, despite opposition from hundreds of local residents.
Shropshire Council's central planning committee granted outline planning permission for Persimmon Homes to create up to 230 properties on land off Shillingston Drive in Berwick Grange.
Plans to build 250 homes were originally submitted in 2011, but amended plans have now been agreed in principle reducing the number of properties to a maximum of 230 and including the creation of an eco-park for public use.
A petition was signed by around 300 people against the original proposals after being organised by the Battlefield and Berwick Residents' Group.
The group's concerns included the creation of extra traffic on Shillingston Drive and the intention of having just one access road into the new development.
A further application going into more detail of the design of the development will have to be submitted before construction work can commence.
Councillor Mal Price, who represents Battlefield, asked the planning committee to consider deferring the planning application to ask the developers to add another access road into the site to ease potential problems.
Objections
"If they put the second road, the majority of the objections would disappear. It is about working with the community," he said.
The idea of deferral was officially put to a vote by planning committee member Councillor Dean Carroll, but resulted in a tied vote, with four councillors for the idea and four against.
Chairman Vernon Bushell, who voted against the idea, exercised his casting vote to prevent the idea progressing.
A second vote was then taken to allow the scheme to go ahead, subject to a series of conditions agreed between the developer and council officers, which was approved by the majority of the committee.
As part of the planning permission, Persimmon will contribute around £1.4 million towards the delivery of infrastructure at the site, including contributions towards to improving local roads and providing on-site play areas for new residents.
Persimmon had also offered to provide £80,000 to pay for new traffic lights at Shillingston Drive/Battlefield Road junction to ease residents' concerns, but councillors said the money would be better spent going towards a general pot for future road improvements in the local area.
