Shifnal homes plan backed despite town fears
Plans to build 200 homes near to Shifnal's secondary school have been backed by planning officers ahead of a key meeting next week.
The homes proposed for a 25-acre site off Coppice Green Lane would provide much needed affordable housing, according to officials at Shropshire Council.
It is part of a wider plan to build 1,600 homes in the town by 2026.
The site is next to Idsall School and Shifnal Town FC's ground, Phoenix Park. Residents and members of Shifnal Town Council have raised concerns about the expansion of the town and the loss of open land.
An outline application submitted by Wallace Land Investment & Management has been recommended for approval by planning officers ahead of a meeting of Shropshire Council's south planning committee on Tuesday.
Officials at Shropshire Council have proposed 1,600 homes should be built in the town over the next 12 years as part of the authority's county-wide Site Allocations and Management of Development (SAMDev) plan. It would increase the population of Shifnal by more than 63 per cent, and opponents claim it will make flooding and traffic problems worse.
The plans for the site near the school have been recommended for approval subject to no objections from the Highways Agency, affordable homes being built as part of the scheme, contributions by the developers to the town's travel plans and a cut in the speed limit on a section of Coppice Green Lane, currently a 60mph zone.
In a report to the planning committee, case officer Richard Fortune said: "Shifnal Town Council has submitted a view contrary to the officer recommendation and the area planning manager in consultation with the chairman agree that the town council has raised material planning issues and that the application should be determined by committee."
The location of the development is also partially outside the Shifnal development boundary, but not within green belt land, which Mr Fortune said the committee must take into account when making a decision on the proposal.
Shropshire Council has also received 16 objections from local residents, with concerns about the expansion of the town, the loss of agricultural land and open spaces, as well as concerns about the highways and drainage of the land.
The meeting on Tuesday will be held at Shirehall in Shrewsbury at 2pm.
