Developers asked to reconsider Shrewsbury play area

A planning application for reserved matters relating to the re-development of the former Radbrook College site in Shrewsbury has been deferred by Shropshire Council's planning committee.

The deferral was agreed for the developer behind the plans, Floreat Homes, to consider providing an on-site play area.

It came after David Kilby, of Shropshire Playing Fields Association, spoke at the meeting to call for the inclusion of a play area.

According to the council's planning report a play area was originally planned for the site but was abandoned in favour of the developers giving £60,000 towards improving existing play areas in Radbrook.

The report stated: "It is usual for a development of this size to include on site equipped children’s play areas and this was originally included and would have been adopted (along with the open space) by Shrewsbury Town Council.

"However local residents agree with the town council that the developers should contribute to the development of the existing infant and junior play areas in the Radbrook ward, which would benefit the community as a whole. The sum of £60,000 requested for this will be secured by a S106 attached to this planning application."

Asked for its opinion on the development Shrewsbury Town Council said it would recommend money being used on other play areas instead.

A consultation response from the council said: "In relation to open space we believe that the provision of infant and junior play provision cannot be accommodated on site and meet the 25m/50m buffer zones between play and the nearest property. We would like to see that play space is removed in lieu of improvements to neighbouring infant and junior space for which a sum of £60,000 for provision being conditioned."

However, Mr Kilby said: "We believe the proposal to give £60,000 to the town council to be spent elsewhere away from this 390 bedroom development is entirely wrong and inappropriate for those new residents for whom this application is intended, many of whom are likely to be young children.

"From the perspective of the town council and the developer It is easy to see the short term benefits of omitting the play areas from this scheme, but from the perspective of those three, four, five-year-olds for whom this will be their home we do not see any valid case being put forward by officers, developers or town councils as to why young children should be denied the ability to play in a safe accessible open space play area within walking distance from their own home."

"National standards state play areas for this age group should be within 100 metres of their own home."

Mr Kilby also suggested that there is a simple solution to ensure the correct distance between play areas and properties.

He said: "The issue officers raise regard a 25m / 50m buffer zone between properties and any proposed play area is easily resolved, you simply plan the location of the play area first and then make sure any properties being planned are the required distance away."