Town council opposes housing plan for Shrewsbury's Copthorne Barracks
A bid to build housing on Shrewsbury's former Copthorne Barracks site has attracted the opposition of a town council.
Members of Shrewsbury Town Council's planning committee have voted to object to a Ministry of Defence planning application to build more than 200 homes at the former barracks.
They cited a number of reasons for their decision, including wanting to see more of the site's original buildings retained, disappointment over the amount of green space allocated in the plans, the lack of children's play facilities, and access to a 45-bed retirement home planned from Barracks Lane, off the Mount.
Helen Ball, Shrewsbury Town Council Town Clerk, said that councillors wanted to see changes to the application before they could give it their backing.
It comes after Shropshire Council's learning and skills department said that the development could put pressure on local schools and that developers would have to make a financial contribution to address any impact.
Mrs Ball said: "They accept the principle that it will be developed but they felt there were sufficient buildings on site that could be changed to have alternative use that would add to the character of the area and would reflect that it is a former barracks.
"The belief was that although they are not listed they are buildings of such significance to its heritage as a barracks that they should be retained."
Shrewsbury Town Council is asked its position on the plan as one of a number of consultees. A final decision will be taken by Shropshire Council.
Mrs Ball said that the council would want funding for like-for-like replacements if sports pitches were lost in the development. She said: "They felt the green space throughout the site was poor value and if they are committed to losing sports pitches there should be significant financial contributions to make that provision elsewhere in the town.
"If there were football pitches and cricket wickets on there then there should be sufficient money to build those pitches elsewhere. They also felt that there was no mention of play provision. Given that there are 174 dwellings you are in effect creating a new community so it is not unreasonable to request an appropriate level of play faculties on the site."
Mrs Ball said councillors would also request that any affordable housing on the site should be gifted to the armed forces charity SSAFA for use by former military personnel.
