Councillors object to plans for more than 60 homes in south Shropshire town

Councillors have objected to plans to build more than 60 homes in a south Shropshire town.

Willey Estates' proposal is on a piece of land off Barrow Street in Much Wenlock. The outline application is for up to 61 homes, with an access planned for the site off the B4376 Barrow Street.

A planning statement, prepared by Berrys, says there will be 33 per cent affordable housing provision on site.

It reads: “As this is an outline application, house types have not yet been finalised. The illustrative masterplan demonstrates a mix of three- and four-bedroom detached and semi-detached dwellings.

“The final housing mix would be agreed through future reserved matters applications and informed by identified local housing needs and relevant planning policy requirements.”

Much Wenlock Town Council's planning and environment committee recommended that members should object to the proposal.

Speaking at a full town council meeting on November 5, Councillor Chris Tyler said that it conflicts to the Neighbourhood Plan and other planning policies.

"It is designated as an area of very high sensitivity," he said.

Councillor Dan Thomas represents Much Wenlock on Shropshire Council. However, he has declared a conflict of interest, so Corvedale Councillor, Colin Stanford has agreed to act on his behalf.

He said he has received a petition of over 1,000 signatures opposing all developments in the town, which he will take to Shropshire Council.

"I love this town and consider myself an honorary resident having worked here here for 30 years," said Councillor Stanford.

"I have been working with Much Wenlock Town Council members for a number of months about other developments that have been going on. I also met with local residents."

Councillor Stanford said the issues regarding the scheme are the risk of flooding, sewage capacity, and highways (particularly at the Gaskell corner).

He also highlighted the town's infrastructure, saying that the doctor's surgery is not large enough to deal with another large development, while there are other two modest retail outlets of any size.

Councillor Stanford added that there will also be an impact on the town's heritage/culture, and landscape.

"This is a very special place, there is a special community culture here and the idea that it will introduce a very large population into a community without some detriment is hard to understand," said Councillor Stanford.

"We see it on a national scale and locally, and it has to be factored in. You cannot articulate that in planning matters when considering if it's a material consideration, but it's certainly important to most people who live here.

"!I sit on the advisory committee on Shropshire Hills National Landscape. Of course it needs protecting, and here in Much Wenlock, you're just on the edge of that with the little strip called Wenlock Edge. It's hard that large housing developments won't have an impact on the landscape.

"Of course we need houses and young families need affordable houses.

"One of the reasons the Shropshire Local Plan was thrown out was because there wasn't adequate provision for housing needs for the Black Country, which seems a rather odd consideration for me.

"Obviously everyone needs a house to live in, but really we need to look at affordable homes for young people, not for retirees like myself who want to live in a grand house in Much Wenlock."

Councillors unanimously objected to the application.

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