Shrewsbury Caterpillar homes backed by planners for second time

The £4.8m proposal to build the homes on land at the company's Lancaster Road site in Shrewsbury was deferred by Shropshire Council's planning committee in August over concerns from councillors about the impact on nearby roads.

The engineering company had been asked to go away and come up with more information about the traffic impact on Mount Pleasant Road, and where it meets Ditherington Road, Heathgates island, and Boscobel Drive.

The application is now set to return to committee on Thursday, with a recommendation that councillors grant permission for the homes.

An update from Tim Rogers, Shropshire Council planning officer, states that the impact on the traffic is not enough to recommend turning the application down.

He also added that although Caterpillar has offered to pay for road improvements, the council has not been able to find any that would help.

He said: "It is considered that the overall impact of the proposed development whilst undoubtedly adding to an existing issue in terms of queueing traffic, does not do so to such an extent that the impact will be severe or sufficient to warrant refusal of the application on these grounds.

"Furthermore, whilst the applicants have indicated their willingness to contribute towards highway improvements where they can be demonstrated to help mitigate any impacts of the proposal, it has not been possible to identify where any such works could be undertaken."

Mr Rogers also said that he agreed with Caterpillar's own consultants, who said that it is not the company's responsibility to sort out an existing problem.

A report prepared for officers said: "The local highway network is subject to existing queuing. It is however, not the responsibility of the development to resolve existing network deficiencies."

The plans had been part of a dual application for a new reception building, alterations, clearance to accommodate future expansion and a 275-bay car park.

That element of the application was approved at the August meeting.

Caterpillar has previously said that the money raised from the homes would be used to invest in the site.

Mr Rogers' report stated: "The proposals (to develop the business) are closely linked to the separate proposals to redevelop the southern part of the site for housing which is being reported separately on this agenda.

“If approved, the applicant has said the release of a capital receipt from the sale of housing land will enable this money to be reinvested in the retained site.

“Part of that reinvestment includes the works proposed in this application as well as additional plant on the site.”