Residents objecting to plans for block of flats on outskirts of Shrewsbury

Saxonby Homes wants to build three blocks of flats on the site on Ellesmere Road on the outskirts of Shrewsbury.

But 18 residents have objected to the plans, and Shrewsbury Town Council has submitted a neutral statement and asked for the applicant to attend its next planning meeting on January 23 for councillors to hear more and make a further comment afterwards.

Town clerk Helen Ball said that councillors remain unconvinced that existing concerns over density have been addressed.

She said: "The town council is aware of the contentious nature of this application on greenfield land, in close proximity to the development boundary of the town on an entry road with probably the best vistas of the town centre with potentially detrimental impact on the street scene and local vernacular.

"In acknowledging that there have been some measures to address the impact on the street scene, members remain unconvinced that the existing concerns over density have been addressed."

Residents complained about the impact on the views from nearby houses, risk to the great crested newt that inhabits the brook in the plot, the increase on traffic to town, pollution from stationary traffic, the local primary school being at capacity, lack of infrastructure, and over development.

Simon Maceachen said: "Traffic has already been increased significantly near the primary school with the housing developments along Ellesmere Road.

"This will be compounded by the location of the development opposite the access to the primary school which is very busy at peak traffic times."

Andrew Armstrong added: "The Ellesmere Road is too busy with queueing traffic from town to Herongate.

"I live on the Redrow estate and Ellesmere Road is non-stop cars.

"Also,the flats will lower the tone of the new housing estates that have been built in the area.

"The main issue is the flats will effect the pond with the newts in it and also the Ellesmere Road cannot support any more cars."

The firm had originally applied to build the flats last year but Shropshire Council refused permission stating that the development was out of scale with the surrounding properties and that it would be incompatible with the principles of sustainable development.

The council also said that the site constitutes one of the remaining vestiges of open countryside within the immediate area.

But now the building firm has resubmitted its plans to build 36 dwellings with a variety of accommodation in design. If the plans get the approval, there will be six one-bed apartments, 25 two-bed apartments of differing sizes and five three-bed apartments.

A decision will be made by Shropshire Council in the coming weeks.