Better pedestrian access needed in plans for 14 homes in Shropshire village, developer told

A developer has been told that better pedestrian access needs to be in place in order for new houses to be built in a Shropshire village.

Kelland Homes has proposed to build 14 homes on land off Crosemere Crescent in Cockshutt, near Ellesmere.

It includes a range of bungalows, semi-detached and detached properties, , each with garages, parking provision, and turning facilities.

It is proposed that two of the properties will be designated for affordable rent, with the development being a single cul-de-sac.

There will be open space within the centre, with additional planting, landscaping, and benches.

Of the the 32 representations received by members of the public, 26 were against the scheme.

Councillor Sarah Marston (Lib Dems, the Meres), said the proposed access route via Crosemere Crescent from the A528 Shrewsbury Road is unsuitable for additional traffic, there are no footpaths near the junctions, and the existing foul water drainage system is already inadequate.

However, senior planning Mark Perry, who recommended that the application should be granted, said he was satisfied with the information provided so far in that the drainage system is achievable.

"Then it will be down to approval of the final details which will be part of the conditions," he said.

The proposal was considered by Shropshire Council's Northern Planning Committee on Tuesday (July 21).

The main issue that councillors had was the lack of pedestrian access leading to the development.

"Why not provide a pavement and move all the houses slightly to the west?" asked Councillor Ben Jephcott (Lib Dems, Bagley).

"We need to encourage people to have safe paved access where possible in urban locations."

In response, Mr Perry said: "The traffic movement, as we saw, coming from the site direction to Cockshutt is near zero because it doesn't go anywhere, other than the occasional agricultural vehicle.

"It's a quiet lane quiet lane with shared space. There is space on the left-hand side to provide pavement. It's striking that balance between the impact that a pavement would have on the character of that lane, which is inherently rural, and it sort of appearing over-engineered in that context."

Councillor Caroline Bagnall (Labour, Broseley) said: "On balance, I would rather have the safety of residents, particularly children, than preserving the rural atmosphere of the lane.

"It may not be a terribly well used lane, but obviously once those houses are built, it is going to be used a lot more. And the chances are, at certain times of the day, such as when children are going to school, people are going to work or returning, the traffic flow will be far greater.

"And that is when the provision of pavement is so much more important. In principle, I don't have an objection on the actual design of the proposal, but I do feel that a pavement is important."

Councillor Greg Ebbs (Lib Dems, Whitchurch South) proposed to accept the proposal with a condition there is a pavement reinstated.

Development manager, Charlotte Morrison said: "I think we can move it forward on the basis that, if you wanted to, you could be minded as a committee to approve in principle subject to officers investigating the potential for putting in a pedestrian pavement there.

"However, I'm not convinced this is the best and safest solution. That's not how shared surfaces work."

Councillor Ebbs said he was inclined to go with that, but asked why a pavement is not seen as the safest option.

"It's a rural road and so it is a shared surface," said Ms Morrison.

"The road doesn't lead to anywhere, it's not a particularly busy road. I acknowledge people living on the estate will use that road, but that's a group of people who are aware that's a shared surface and how they use and interact it is likely to be different.

Tabitha Lythe, planning and development services manager, explained that her father lives on a development like that.

"The children go up and down on scooters and bikes," she said.

"And it's brilliant because there's more space because there's no pavements.

"At the moment, this would be a cul-de-sac. If things ever change, it would have to go through a thorough highways assessment.

"But that is not here and that's not even, as I understand it, on the horizon. So, there can be positives of shared surfaces. And the children are aware to look out for cars, and the residents are. They adapt their behaviours."

Councillor Ed Potter (Conservative, Loton) said it "it is a smallish development" with local traffic movement.

"It's like we're trying to predict people's behaviours and assuming what people are going to do," he said.

"When actually, we should be judging this application on what we're seeing before us and listening to some of the advice we're having from highways where it's gone through the process."

Members approved the application subject to officers investigating further appropriate means of pedestrian access to the site.