Residents launch petition after developer reveals plans for hundreds of homes on village green belt

Boningale Homes wants to build the housing estate between Newhouse Lane, Holyhead Road and Cross Road in Albrighton, near Shifnal.

The plans will include not just homes but also a new secondary school and a care home.

On Tuesday, the developers held a public meeting to unveil their plans to villagers.

Dean Trowbridge of Boningale Homes said: " We are in the early stages of our proposed development and held a public workshop to engage with the community on our proposal.

"We received valuable input from the community, where we were also able to answer the community’s questions and explain the proposed amenities and infrastructure upgrades."

He said that the release of green belt to build the homes on was "necessary" to meet the county's housing needs.

"Shropshire County Council is currently undertaking a Local Plan Review and its published position is that that in order to meets its housing need, and that of the Black Country, green belt releases are necessary," he said.

Albrighton Parish Council said it first heard of the plans last week, and were prepared to comment on the proposals until they have gathered more information.

In a statement on its website, the parish council said: "At this stage it is understood that this is purely a consultation session and no planning applications have been made thus far.

"We understand this has caused distress to many residents, but please note comments have been heard and we are aware of the general view of the community."

Shropshire Council said it was aware of the plans and the planning application would be considered "against the development plan and any other material considerations".

However, many residents in Albrighton say they are strongly opposed to the plan and have begun a petition.

Taking to a community Facebook group, villager Angela Collins, said: "We have lived in this lovely village for two years. It is a kindly, well-serviced, very real community.

"It is hard to argue that new homes and communities should not be built. But I see no evidence that Boningdale Homes want to do anything beside profit from leeching off this place. They make no contribution to roads or services. They concrete over green fields and flood plains.

"They build huge estates whose residents need to use cars to buy a pint of milk."

She added that she attended the consultation but described it as a "box ticking exercise".

"There was no real forum for discussion. I would suggest a full public meeting might help them assess the true depth of local feeling

"I believe that Albrighton residents should form a real and active force to resist the further wrecking of our community by people who appear to have no care for us beyond how much money they can make out of a village which their own family once cherished."

Local MP Mark Pritchard has also criticised the plans.

He said on a statement on Facebook that they were “completely unsustainable” and “outside of the Local Plan”, adding that “Albrighton has already taken a lot of new homes in recent years”.

The villager's petition, which is available to sign at Gibson's Garage or the Co-op in the village, which has now reached around 1,000 signatures.