Final arguments made over plans for historic Bridgnorth site

An appeal hearing over the plans for the Innage Lea site re-convened at Shirehall in Shrewsbury on Tuesday.

The planning appeal, regarding the building of 55 flats, was heard in July but the hearing on Tuesday allowed for the parties to meet and discuss affordable housing and the viability of the scheme.

The wait is now on for the decision into the fate of Innage Lea and is expected to be made in the upcoming months.

Shropshire Council officers refused the application last year as there is a “heritage asset” on site, then the developers lodged an appeal.

Bridgnorth Town Council has objected to the plans for the flats on the old William Williams site on Innage Lane.

Members of Bridgnorth Civic Society have also opposed the demolition of the buildings, despite Innage Lea being hit by an arson attack late last year.

Five crews from Bridgnorth, Much Wenlock, Shrewsbury and Tweedale in Telford fought through the night to try and save the building, but firefighters said much of it was damaged by fire and smoke.

Bridgnorth town councillor David Cooper, also a member of the civic society, said that Innage Lea can be traced back to between 1830 and 1880, and it was originally the Apley Estate and the surveyor who lived there.

He has also said that a barn on the site dated back to 1800 and could potentially be medieval.

Group land and planning director at Churchill Retirement Living, Andrew Burgess, previously said the proposal is an “acceptable high quality design, and will help provide much needed housing”.

Speaking after Tuesday's hearing, Mr Burgess said: “Following the appeal hearing, we will await the planning inspector's decision over the coming weeks.

"We remain confident in our proposal, which will help provide much needed housing for older people in the Bridgnorth area.”