Plans for house with underground cave - plus all the latest planning applications to Shropshire Council

An historic Shropshire house with its own underground cave poses one big problem for its owners.

The front door of the Grade II-listed house in Friar's Street, Bridgnorth, opens directly into the living space, leaving precious little shelter from the elements.

So now a plan has been lodged with Shropshire Council to build a single-storey entrance porch which will also incorporate internal steps down into the cave.

Planning agent DC Architectural Design has told officials that structures in caves are a distinctive feature of Bridgnorth's development.

They are understood to have been constructed for storage on the steep hillside.

The "substantial brick-vaulted cave" is underneath the home's front garden with roof lights, and doors.

Plans have been drawn up for a strategy to ensure that the vaulted structure is preserved. The house sits in the town's conservation area.

Planners have been told the proposed porch has been designed as a "modest and subordinate intervention" that would use traditional materials, and preserve the historic fabric wherever possible.

The porch would be 3m deep and 3.59m wide, officials have been told.

The painted brick property forms part of an "attractive late 18th-century terrace which contributes positively to the historic character of the town”.

Planning agents wroe: "The site occupies the steep hillside connecting Bridgnorth High Town with the River Severn below, a distinctive characteristic of this part of the town.

"As with many properties along Friars Street, the dwelling is constructed above a historic vaulted cave, accessed independently from the front garden, reflecting Bridgnorth's unique topography and historic development.

"The existing dwelling continues to function successfully as a private residence; however, the principal entrance opens directly into the dining room, providing little opportunity for transitional entrance space, storage or weather protection.

"The proposed porch seeks to address these functional shortcomings while respecting the architectural significance of the listed building."

The full details of the plans can be viewed on the Shropshire Council planning portal (reference 26/02820/FUL).

Planning applications lodged with Shropshire Council in the week commencing July 27, 2026:

• 26/02890/CPL: Whittington Close, Shrewsbury; Certificate of lawfulness for proposed removal of electric garage door and replace with a window.
• 26/02881/CPL: Brockwell Cottage, 5 Back Lane, Ackleton; Certificate of lawfulness for proposed outbuilding.
• 26/02882/DIS: Land southeast of Warrant Road, Tern Hill, Market Drayton; Discharge of condition of planning permission 25/02881/FUL.
• 26/02885/AG1: Prees Wood Farm, Armoury Lane, Prees, Whitchurch; Proposed erection of a silage clamp.
• 26/02863/AG1: Hampton Bank Farm, Hampton Bank, Welshampton, Ellesmere; Proposed agricultural building for agricultural machinery, hay and general agricultural storage.
• 26/02852/CPL: Linleys, Plealey, Shrewsbury; Certificate of lawfulness for the proposed replacement of all windows/doors/soffits and fascias to UPVC/composite.
• 26/02856/AG1: Newnham Hall, Yockleton, Shrewsbury; Prior notification for the erection of a general purpose agricultural building 2.
• 6/02850/DIS: Bank House, Walford Heath, Shrewsbury; Discharge of conditions of planning permission 22/02837/FUL.
• 26/02854/AG1: Field to the north of the B4385 Road, Clunbury; Proposed agricultural track for access to facilitate a woodland creation project on the land.
• 26/02859/FUL: 35 Swan Mere Park, Ellesmere; Single-storey extensions and associated alterations.
• 26/02851/CPE: Onny Developments Ltd, 3A Corvedale Road, Craven Arms; Application for a lawful development certificate of existing use for open yard storage of building materials and associated vehicles.
• 26/02840/CPE: The Batch Cottage, Brockton, Much Wenlock; Application for a lawful development certificate for existing use to demonstrate that the extension added in 2011 and completed prior to 2012 has been in situ and occupied from that time.
• 26/02841/DIS: Land at Maxfield Drive, Shrewsbury; Discharge of conditions of planning permission 24/01890/FUL.
• 26/02836/HHE: Marton Crest, Overton Road, St Martins, Oswestry; Erection of a rear single-storey extension to form new living room and utility (dimensions 6m beyond rear wall, 4m maximum height, 2.50m high to eaves).
• 26/02837/FUL: Lilac Cottage, Chapel Lane, Yorton Heath, Shrewsbury; Erection of a garage and storage building and associated works.
• 26/02843/TCA: 1 Quarry Place, Shrewsbury; Reduce and shape by 20 per cent one holly (T1) within Shrewsbury Conservation Area,
• 26/02844/TCA: Croft Court, Plealey, Shrewsbury; various tree works within Plealey Conservation Area.
• 26/02820/FUL: 28 Friar’s Street, Bridgnorth; Erection of porch and internal stairs to cave.
• 26/02830/CPL: Clive Hall, High Street, Clive, Shrewsbury; Certificate of lawfulness for installation of a 220 sq m hard surfaced area.
• 26/02821/LBC: 28 Friar’s Street, Bridgnorth; Erection of porch and internal stairs to cave.
• 26/02815/FUL: 30 Birch Grove, Alveley, Bridgnorth; Rear extension.
• 26/02826/FUL: Briar Edge Farm, Woolston, Church Stretton; Erection of agricultural building for storage of manure.
• 26/02810/DIS: Former cowshed south of Hamperley Farm, Hamperley; Partial discharge of condition 3 (demolition) of planning permission 16/03562/FUL to allow replacement of existing concrete roof rafters with new steel ones, and rebuilding of southwest gable structure.
• 26/02825/TCA: Cranleigh Mill Lane, Kemberton, Shifnal; Fell one magnolia within Kemberton Conservation Area.
• 26/02816/AG1: The Lyde, Bromlow, Minsterley; Fodder and machinery storage building.
• 26/02817/DIS: Land adjacent to Churncote Island, Welshpool Road/A5Welshpool Road, Bicton Heath, Shrewsbury; Discharge of condition 11 (foul and surface water) relating to planning permission 22/02464/FUL.
• 26/02805/ADV: Proposed commercial pod, Morrisons car park, Maer Lane, Market Drayton; six externally illuminated fascia signs.
• 26/02818/HHE: Chatfield House, Elson Road, Ellesmere; Erection of a single-storey rear extension to a detached dwelling (dimensions 5.60m beyond the rear wall, 3.70m maximum height and 2.50m high to eaves).
• 26/02806/AG1: Land at Manor House Farm, Crickheath, Oswestry; Proposed agricultural storage tank.
• 26/02828/DIS: Muddy Boots Barn, Rowton, Halfway House, Shrewsbury; Discharge of conditions relating to planning permission 19/04863/FUL.
• 26/02814/DIS: Grove School, Stafford Street, Market Drayton; Discharge of conditions attached to planning permission 26/00280/FUL.
• 26/02813/DIS: Proposed commercial development land to the south of Hazledine Way, Shrewsbury; Discharge of conditions relating to planning permission 24/04742/VAR.
• 26/02812/OUT: Proposed residential developmental land north of Olden Lane, Ruyton-XI-Towns; Outline application for the erection of five self-build dwellings (to include access).
• 26/02829/CPL: Duchess Drive, Bridgnorth; Lawful development certificate for conversion of garage to living accommodation and erection of porch.
• 26/02808/AG1: Upper Coston, Broome Road, Aston On Clun, Craven Arms; Erection of cover over agricultural yard to provide livestock handling facilities.
• 26/02807/DIS: Edwards and Farmer Ltd, Chatford House, Chatford, Shrewsbury; Discharge of conditions on planning permission 24/04776/FUL.
• 26/02804/FUL: Morrisons, Maer Lane, Market Drayton; Installation of commercial pod in car park.
• 26/02831/TCA: Jane Wood Drive, Church Stretton; Fell (and replace with alternative species) one fir tree within Church Stretton Conservation Area.
• 26/02792/FUL: Wisteria Cottage, Mill Lane, Kemberton, Shifnal; Replace front boundary walls and gates to existing dwelling.
• 26/02788/FUL: Woore County Primary School, London Road, Woore; Nursery extension to east-facing elevation.
• 26/02802/AMP: Montague Place, Shrewsbury; Non-material amendment to reduce rear extension from two storey to single storey relating to planning permission 25/03616/FUL.
• 26/02797/FUL: Storage building south of Ellesmere Town Hall, Willow Street, Ellesmere; Conversion of storage building to offices and associated works.
• 26/02783/AG1: Tedsmere House, Weston Road, Baschurch, Shrewsbury; Additional bay on existing steel portal frame building to store winter forage produced on the holding and associated machinery.
• 26/02799/FUL: Bynner Street, Shrewsbury; To replace two first-floor rear windows and back door.
• 26/02761/TDC: Proposed residential development land at Bembows Close, Childs Ercall; Proposed technical matters application for the construction of three dwellings (25/03953/PIP).
• 26/02740/FUL: Proposed commercial development land to the north of Whittington Road, Park Hall; Subdivision of Unit 3 (approved under 24/01636/FUL and 26/00532/VAR), retention of use Class E(b)/sui generis use, and installation of signage.
• 26/02735/LBC: Laurence House, 4 Mill Street, Ludlow; External works to rear to create a new private garden space and garage.
• 26/02741/ADV: Proposed commercial development land to the north of Whittington Road, Park Hall; Proposed totem, front elevation signage and single projecting sign.
• 26/02734/FUL: Laurence House, 4 Mill Street, Ludlow; External works to rear to create a new private garden space and garage.
• 26/02746/FUL: Penylan Mill Cottage, Chain Lane, Coed-y-go, Oswestry; Ground-mounted photovoltaic solar panel installation.
• 26/02706/FUL: 1A Station Crescent, Craven Arms; Erection of three-storey building comprising eight apartments.
• 26/02723/FUL: 11 Wolverley Court, Albrighton; Erection of first-floor rear extension.
• 26/02691/FUL: Little Hogstow, Plox Green, Minsterley, Shrewsbury; Installation of solar panels and electric vehicle charger on garage building.
• 26/02688/FUL: Stanford Farm, Stanford Halfway House, Shrewsbury; Retention of existing lodge for use of wedding guests and five glamping pods, siting of one additional lodge and four additional glamping pods and change of use of paddock for up to 10 guest tents associated with wedding accommodation (part retrospective).
• 26/02673/CPL: La Beche House, 14 Pitchford, Shrewsbury; Application for a lawful development certificate for a proposed single-storey garage extension to the existing dwelling.
• 26/02669/FUL: Dinas Cottage, Weston Rhyn, Oswestry; Erection of a residential annexe and all associated works (part retrospective).
• 26/02617/FUL: Blackberry Cottage, The Terrace, Welshampton, Ellesmere; Proposed first-floor extension.
• 26/02615/ADV: Marks and Spencer, Unit 2, Avenbury Lane, Ludlow; Installation of four illuminated fascia signs and one illuminated billboard sign.
• 26/02577/FUL: Stanley Farm, Chorley, Bridgnorth; Extension of livestock building to house cattle and erection of muck store.
• 26/02483/FUL: Rednal Borehole Pumping Station, land northeast of Woodhouse Drive; Site extension to accommodate two new kiosks and new access point.
• 26/02458/FUL: Ryton Grove House, Ryton, Shifnal; Demolition of dilapidated gardeners store and boundary wall, erection of extension to existing carport and hobby room and replacement of part boundary wall including change of use of land.
• 26/02370/FUL: Bache Farm House, Homer, Much Wenlock; Single-storey rear extension and conversion of rear flat roof to pitched roof.