'I moved to Whitchurch for a quiet life in my final years - now developers want to build 280 homes here'

A 90-year-old Shropshire man says the thought of living next to a building site for nearly 300 properties is "abhorrent”.

Birmingham-based Richborough has submitted an outline application for up to 280 homes for a proposal it has branded ‘Whitchurch West’.

The £55 million scheme is for a 31-acre site at the junction of the A41 Whitchurch bypass and B5398 Wrexham Road, west of Whitchurch town centre. It neighbours an Asda petrol station and fast food outlets along with existing housing.

Richborough said the scheme would include 252 homes on the open market, 20 for social rent and eight for affordable home ownership.

If approved the estate could house around 616 people.

“The application concerns a largely unconstrained site on the edge of one ofthe authority’s principal centres,” said James Lunn of planning agent Berrys.

“If developed, it would make a substantial contribution to the housing shortfall in the authority.

"Shropshire Council has recognised this in its positive pre-application advice, and Richborough is committed to working with the council to deliver a well-designed residential neighbourhood which contributes positively to the future of the town.”

However, 29 people have objected to the proposal, with no supportive comments submitted.

One objector is 90-year-old Dr Paul Millac, who recently moved to Whitchurch to live close to his family and "enjoy the quiet life" in his remaining years.

"The thought of spending a significant part of that time living opposite a large building site, with the associated noise, traffic, dust and disruption, is frankly abhorrent to me," said Dr Millac.

"I am also concerned that this is simply too much development for this location. It will bring additional cars and traffic to the area, and the site does not appear particularly well connected to public transport or the railway station.

"I am concerned about the proposed wide footpath/cycleway onto Belton Road and would like the council to make absolutely sure that this could not later become a vehicle access.

"I also understand from a local resident that there is evidence of water voles and bats in this area. I believe this should be properly investigated before any development is allowed to go ahead.

"There must surely be more suitable places for new housing in and around Whitchurch, including previously developed sites closer to the town and railway station.

"At my age, I do not object to change for the sake of it, but I do believe this development is too large and in the wrong place. I respectfully ask the council to refuse the application."

Councillor Sho Abdul, who represents Whitchurch West on Shropshire Council, has also objected.

"Taken together, the proposal's conflict with the adopted spatial strategy, pressure on schools and healthcare, near-capacity highway junctions, weak sustainable transport provision, loss of high-quality agricultural land, incomplete ecological surveys and unresolved drainage arrangements amount to significant adverse effects," he said.

"The application has not demonstrated that up to 280 dwellings can be accommodated sustainably on this site. I therefore respectfully request that planning permission be refused.

"If the council is not presently minded to refuse the application, determination should at least be deferred until the applicant has provided the updated assessments and binding infrastructure and mitigation package."