Controversial 65-home development in north Shropshire village gets green light after planning appeal

A development of dozens of new homes will be built in a north Shropshire village, after a planning inspector overturned Shropshire Council’s refusal of the scheme.

Outline plans to build 65 new two-, three-, four- and five-bedroom homes on the outskirts of Woore, on the border with Cheshire, were submitted to Shropshire Council in September 2025.

The plans, from Crewe-based Muller Property Group, argued the Audlem Road site was "highly sustainable" with easy access to a range of facilities, including a bakery, shop, pub, primary school and village hall.

But the plans received backlash from the local community, with residents raising concerns about several issues, including the size of the development and its potential impact on the local school and roads.

Woore Parish Council also objected to the plans, stating that the scheme was double the number of houses envisioned in their neighbourhood plan and raising concerns over the potential for flooding.

Echoing the concerns of local residents, the parish council said that the local primary school was already oversubscribed and would require an additional member of staff and an extra classroom if the development went ahead.

In December last year, Shropshire Council rejected the plans after its planning officers ruled that the scheme would have “harmful visual impacts” on the countryside and put additional pressure on local services.

But Muller appealed the decision with the Government Planning Inspectorate, which has now overruled the local authority and determined the scheme can go ahead.

While the inspectors did agree that the scheme could add pressure on the local school, the report said they were “not persuaded” that the development would cause an “unacceptable shortage” of places.

Concluding, inspector H Faulkner ruled that the adverse effects of the scheme did not outweigh the benefits, which included the provision of open-market housing and affordable housing provision, along with the creation of additional p

Steve Bourne, Technical Director at Muller Property Group, said they were “delighted” with the decision, but were disappointed it had ended with a “lengthy and costly appeal process”.

He said: “This is a positive outcome for Woore and for housing delivery in Shropshire.

“Our proposals will deliver new market and affordable homes, support existing village services and provide environmental and community benefits.

“We now look forward to progressing the detailed design and working with the local community and Shropshire Council to deliver a high-quality development that makes a lasting positive contribution to the village.”