Shrewsbury homes bid near site of sewage floods backed
Controversial plans to build 12 affordable homes near Shrewsbury on land close to where raw sewage has been known to overflow have been recommended for approval by council chiefs.
The plans for the homes off Merrington Road, in Bomere Heath, went before Shropshire Council's Central Planning Committee last month, but were adjourned after residents complained that raw sewage flooded homes in the area.
But following talks with Bomere Heath Parish Council and Severn Trent, planning officials say the new estate would be serviced by a different drainage system to the affected houses and it has now been recommended for approval.
Planning officer Stuart Thomas says in his report to the committee: "There is an identified need for affordable housing in Bomere Heath and the location of the proposed dwellings is considered to be acceptable and in compliance with the terms of the exception sites policy.
He said members deferred consideration to the next meeting for further discussion on the concerns about whether a satisfactory means of drainage for the site could be provided without increasing the risk of flooding and problems occurring with the foul and surface water drainage system serving the village.
He said:?"Initially we identified which properties suffered problems via the Parish Council and Severn Trent, who confirmed that it is dwellings on Brook Road who suffer from their foul water drainage system overflowing. We then inspected the drainage plans for the area, which show the location of the drains within the vicinity of the site including Brook Road.
"The proposed scheme on Merrington Road will connect into a completely different drainage system from the one which serves Brook Road."
The meeting will be held at Shirehall, Shrewsbury, on Friday at 2pm.
