Plans for almost 60 new homes in Shropshire village despite past concerns

Plans for more houses in a north Shropshire village have been been lodged.

People living in Baschurch, between Shrewsbury and Oswestry, have already raised concerns about a wave of new housing proposals in the village, including a proposal for 155 homes.

And now an outline planning application has been submitted by Shingler Homes Ltd for around 58 properties.

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The developer has targeted land to the west of Shrewsbury Road, near Nobold. The scheme also includes commercial, community and retail uses.

In a design and access statement, Nigel Thorns, of Nigel Thorns Planning Consultancy Ltd, said that although the application is in outline form, the indicative masterplan drawing shows 58 properties.

Highlighting the benefits, Mr Thorns said the scheme would:

• Provide a sustainable form of development with a layout/design/materials which contribute to the character and setting of the village
• Respect the setting of the existing built development within the village and not
• project beyond the existing village envelope
• Create a quality built development including positive frontages
• Create quality areas of open/amenity space for the benefit of future residents
• Introduce a single access point onto Shrewsbury Road to serve the site
• Retain the hedge lines and trees around the boundary to retain the rural nature of the site
• Protect the amenity of the surrounding neighbouring properties.

Mr Thorns added that it is a low-density scheme, with a density of 13 dwellings per hectare. The properties adjacent to the central road have been designed to provide positive frontages, said the agent, with the smaller cul-de-sacs having secondary frontages.

The site is entirely open with any trees of note set within the hedge lines around the perimeter of the set.

An arboricultural appraisal, including a tree scheme and tree constrains plan, has been prepared and submitted within the application.

Mr Thorns said the current application does not seek to establish the proposed landscaping of the site, and this would be provided at the later reserved matters stage.

Mr Thorns said the the aim is to ensure that all users of the buildings will have equal and convenient access.

A transport assessment says that the proposed development can be safely and suitable accessed from Shrewsbury Road (B5067), with excellent visibility being available at the site access.

Adequate provision is being made for parking, turning and servicing, adds the statement, with vehicle tracking confirming that refuse lorries and emergency services can safely manoeuvre within the site.

An existing public right of way that crosses the site will be retained and enhanced, with upgraded pedestrian crossing and an enhanced bus stop also proposed. A review of collision data has also confirmed there has been no recorded injury collisions within 250 metres of the site during the past five years.

Meanwhile, a flood risk assessment shows that the site lies entirely within Flood Zone 1, meaning there is a low risk of flooding.

Surface water flood risk is also low to moderate, and can be effectively managed through sustainable drainage solutions (SuDS), attenuation and regrading. The assessment adds that existing foul and surface water sewers will be retained and utilised for the proposed development.

Anyone who wishes to view the plans or make a representation can do so by searching for reference 26/01317/OUT via Shropshire Council’s planning portal. The consultation period ends on May 11.

You can find out more about planning applications and planned roadworks where you live by visiting publicnoticeportal.uk