Shropshire Star

Homes plan on site of former Shrewsbury pub set to get the go-ahead

Plans to build eight homes on the site of a former village pub near Shrewsbury are expected to be given the green light.

Published

The proposals are for the former Cygnet pub in Hookagate and comprises four pairs of semi-detached houses made up of two or three bedrooms.

It would also include the relocation of the existing bus shelter at the north-eastern corner of the site to the south-western corner along Longden Road.

Toby Cowell, planning officer for Shropshire Council, has recommended the project is given approval by the Central Planning Committee at a meeting next Thursday.

His report says: “Permission was previously granted at the site in February 2016 for the demolition of the existing pub and erection of six three-bedroom dwellings with additional parking and garaging.

"The application has since been amended upon initial submission by way of removing a dwelling from the southern portion of the site and thus negating the need for a row of three terraced dwellings and a pair of semis.”

Longden Parish Council has objected to the scheme on a number of points.

A statement said: “It is on the basis of highway grounds as the proposal for access and egress onto the highway and within the site itself are not sufficient.

“The houses are too high and are above neighbouring properties in height and the houses are too crowded on the site and this constitutes over-development of the site.”

But Shropshire Council’s Highways team said it did not share the concerns and said the development was in a 30mph area.

And Mr Cowell’s report adds: “The site is located within the community cluster of Longden, Hook-a-Gate, Annscroft, Longden Common, and Lower Common/Exfords Green.

“Policy has set a housing guideline of up to 50 additional dwellings over the plan period to 2026.

“Such housing development comprising infilling, the conversion of buildings and groups of dwellings within the villages may be considered acceptable on suitable site.

“Some 25 to 30 dwellings are expected to be delivered within Longden itself, with the remaining quantum of development spread evenly across the remaining villages.

“It is acknowledged that the housing guideline has been marginally exceeded in terms of actual housing completions and housing commitments through sites with planning permission, amounting to a total of 19 completions and 33 commitments as of March 2017.”

But the development is recommended for approval on the basis that it is a sustainable use of land and doesn’t impact the landscape.

By Andrew Morris, Local Democracy Reporter