Shropshire Council costs us thousands in unnecessary appeal fees, says housing developer

Pete Gwilt today criticised the authority for continually ignoring a Government directive to make it easier for small housing developments to be built on pockets of lands across Shropshire.

Shropshire Council had gone against the ruling that was made last year not to charge the £18,000 levy on small developments. Telford & Wrekin Council has already waived the levy.

When planning permission is granted to any developer by Shropshire Council planners, they are then imposed with a hefty affordable housing fee.

Mr Gwilt submitted plans to convert five old industrial buildings into apartments on Station Road in Albrighton last August.

It was when permission to build was granted that he was then handed an extra £56,000 fee for a section 106 Affordable Housing Contribution to pay to Shropshire Council.

Mr Gwilt said that he could not afford the extra charge and at this point had decided not to proceed with the development.

Weeks later the Government announced that all local authorities should exempt developers of less than 10n buildings from the affordable housing contribution. However, Mr Gwilt said Shropshire Council repeatedly refused to do so and have so far cost him £7,000 in appeal fees.

He has since written Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard who, he said, had written to the authority on his behalf about the issue.

Mr Gwilt said: "They told us in January that the council was ignoring the directives and they continued to do so. It is ridiculous to charge everyone the extortionate affordable housing contribution even if you are going to only build a few homes.

"For example, my costs for the appeal are heading for £7,000 already. By refusing to follow a directive set in November 2014 Shropshire Council now face a barrage of claims which will have to be paid by the Shropshire tax payer.

"Lets get this clear, this was a clear central Government directive which the council refused to implement - it was not advice.

"Small developments naturally employ local tradesmen which for a rural village like Albrighton would have been fantastic.

"I've had to fork out my own money for my appeal. " Who ever has made the decision at the council has done so behind public money. It's time they were held responsible for their actions."

The ruling, which would make developers like Mr Gwilt exempt from the charge, could open the floodgates to small-scale developments on fields, pub car parks and the gardens of existing houses.

Shropshire Council is now taking legal action on the ruling and considering whether to change the policy after planning inspector Tom Cannon ruled that an applicant looking to build five houses in Shrewsbury did not have to make an affordable housing contribution

Mr Cannon made the judgement when considering an appeal against Shropshire Council's refusal to grant planning permission for five houses at Vashlyn, Copthorne.

The appeal was granted but Mr Cannon also said the applicant would not have to make an affordable housing contribution because of Government policy.

The ruling is likely to affect any future development of up to 10 houses or less – 90 per cent of applications submitted to Shropshire Council – making it more attractive to start building work.

One eyesore site that could benefit is one planned for the fire-hit Lea Manor Hotel on the A464 near Albrighton.

Plans for seven homes on the site have stalled because the owners said the £81,900 bill they faced as part of the affordable housing contribution did not make it cost-effective.

Mal Price, Shropshire Council's Cabinet member for planning, said: "The council is aware of the recent appeal decision and will consider its position shortly."