Housebuilding plan in Shropshire village binned after warning it would push community goodwill to 'breaking point'

A report by the council’s planning officer confirmed that despite only 30 new homes being earmarked for Nesscliffe in the authority’s five year land supply, a total of 111 had either already been built or granted approval – 270 per cent more than the planned amount.

Applicant Suckley Farms Ltd put forward a proposal to further extend a housing development off Ridgewood Road in the north of the village in December.

They said the scheme of two, three and four-bedroom properties would meet local need and make services in the village more sustainable.

“Previously built out schemes in the village proved extremely popular with local people wishing to move back to the area and others moving to Nesscliffe to live closer to family connections,” they said.

“Developments in community hubs, that help to rebalance rural communities by providing housing for local needs, are supported.”

Great Ness & Little Ness Parish Council objected to the scheme on the grounds that it was outside the proposed local plan development boundary for the village, adding their concerns that the school and doctor’s surgery in the area were over capacity.

Meanwhile a report from Shropshire Council said the amount of new homes already built in the village was already too high.

“When combined with this current proposal, the figure would increase to 124 dwellings, which is 96 over the guideline, equating to a percentage increase of 313 per cent,” they said.

“The unplanned delivery of housing above the housing guideline figure for Nesscliffe, in combination with the delivery of other consented residential development, could lead to undue stress on local services and infrastructure.

“The proposal, for a further 13 no. dwellings, in an area that has already significantly surpassed its housing guideline, would unacceptably add to the pressure on local infrastructure and amenities and push community goodwill towards breaking point. ”

Rejecting the scheme, Shropshire Council also added that insufficient evidence had been provided to demonstrate it would not harm the setting of scheduled monuments and heritage assets in the area.