Objections to houses at former church in Shrewsbury

Dozens of people have objected to plans to build eight homes and a memorial garden on the grounds of a former church in Shrewsbury.

Modo UK Ltd has submitted an application for the scheme called Hawthorn Gardens to happen on the site of the Wellspring Apostolic Church in the Belle Vue area of the town.

Representing the applicant, Stephen Owen, of ArrolGreen, said the proposals “seek to bring the site back into beneficial use through the delivery of a carefully considered residential development”.

“Historically, the site formed part of the wider Besford House estate,” he said.

“Today, the juxtaposition of dense nineteenth-century urban development with looser suburban grain contributes significantly to the character and appearance of the Belle Vue Conservation Area in the vicinity of the site.

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“A detailed understanding of the site’s historic development has been central to the design process.

“The site has remained in private ownership throughout. The site currently contains a redundant prefabricated building, areas of hardstanding, and unmanaged green space, and now presents as underutilised; the redevelopment of the site represents an opportunity to bring land back into effective use in a manner consistent with the principles of sustainable development set out within the Local Plan.

“The proposed development has been carefully structured to respond to this sensitivity through a restrained layout, controlled building footprints, and the reinforcement of landscape structure.

“The intention is not to suburbanise the site, but to introduce a development form that sits quietly within its context and respects the site’s historic character and memory.”

Mr Owen added that vehicular access is proposed from Hawthorne Road, with an internal access road designed to ensure safe ingress and egress, appropriate visibility, and adequate turning provision for residents, service vehicles and emergency access.

Meanwhile, in terms of the design, a single layout option was identified and taken forward following feedback, said Mr Owen.

“In direct response to the advice received, the previously proposed single dwelling at the north-west corner of the site was removed, as officers advised that this element would be unlikely to sit comfortably within the established Belle Vue street scene,” said Mr Owen.

“The omission of this element has enabled a more coherent and legible layout, providing a consistent building line and responding more positively to the character and appearance of the Belle Vue Conservation Area.”

All properties will be three-storeys high, consisting of three bathrooms and two-and-a- half bathrooms. An allocation of two dedicated off-street parking spaces will be allocated for each home, together with discreet provision for cycle storage, refuse, and recycling. Each property will also have a rear garden.

However, at the time of writing, 30 objections had been lodged with none in support.

“The proposed plans are for eight large houses which are ugly in appearance and would add nothing to the character of this beautiful area,” said Susan Newton.

“The roads around the site are already at capacity for on street parking and more housing of this type would have a detrimental effect, not to mention the implications for road safety.”

Councillor Kate Halliday, who represents Belle Vue, added: “I do not object in principle to appropriate residential development of previously developed land.

“My concern is that the proposed development of eight three-storey dwellings, four garages, associated parking, access, drainage infrastructure and hardstanding represents an excessive intensity of development for a particularly constrained and sensitive site.”