Assurances sought over new roundabout on A53 in Shawbury

Shawbury Parish Council wants a planning condition which will mean the roundabout will be built on the A53 before people occupy the new homes off Shrewsbury Road.

Outline planning application for the scheme to build up to 50 homes in the village was approved by Shropshire Council in 2015. But full planning permission for the full application has yet to be approved.

The homes will be two storeys high and have room for gardens and parking. The plans also include a roundabout, bus turning area and a car park for the nearby school.

A statement on behalf of the parish council says: "The proposal was for the roundabout to be completed prior to any other work commencing on site so that the roundabout could be used for access to the development and to ensure that it was provided for the benefit of the village.

"However, due to the length of time that the decision has taken and the time that is required to undertake and approve the technical details of the roundabout, apply for road orders and permits and thereafter construct the roundabout, the developer is concerned that this will further delay commencement of the housing and ultimately delivery of the houses.

"As such, they have requested that the condition be amended to enable works to commence on the dwellings and have assured me that the roundabout will be provided prior to any of the dwellings being occupied.

"I have therefore recommended an alternative condition which will require them to provide the roundabout before they complete the roof of any dwelling. This gives us assurance that the roundabout can be in place in sufficient time before occupation."

The parish council has proposed the following amended condition as part of the application: "Prior to the completion of the first roof on the development hereby approved, or within nine months of the commencement of the development, whichever is the sooner the proposed site access roundabout junction to the A53 shall be substantially completed".

"Correspondence from the builders indicates that they are prepared to accept this condition which would indicate that work will soon start on the development and members will carefully monitor the situation," the parish council statement adds.

A statement on behalf of Shropshire Council says: "The above application is nearing a decision and we are just working through the details of the S106 agreement to secure affordable housing, open space and the space for the bus parking or turning area."