Ludlow homes plan may face legal challenge

Shropshire Council is considering a legal challenge over a decision by Government planning inspector Cullum Parker to allow the homes to be built in the Foldgate Lane area of the town.

The controversial decision was made following a planning inquiry attended by about 100 objectors earlier this year, and came after the authority last year threw out Richborough Estates' plans.

Ian Kilby, Shropshire Council's planning services manager, said the authority was "considering its position".

Ludlow Town Council and two of the town's Shropshire councillors Vivienne Parry and Andy Boddington have called for the council to call for a judicial review.

Shropshire Council has six weeks to decide whether to take action.

Councillor Parry, for Ludlow South, said the big issue was that the decision ignored the council's own five-year plan for housing, which the Foldgate homes were not part of.

She said: "I've been asking people on Greenacres (a nearby street) about it, I've been going door to door, and they are very worried."

"But it is not just this one estate, it could lead to everyone else jumping on the bandwagon and we don't want a mish-mash of houses, we want something appropriately planned.We think the decision was not right."

Ian Kilby, Shropshire Council's planning services manager, said: "Following receipt of the Foldgate Lane appeal decision, Shropshire Council is considering its position from a planning and legal perspective – having regard to the basis on which the planning inspector appointed by the Secretary of State reached his decision to grant planning permission on a site not allocated for housing in the council's development plan.

"There is a six-week period following receipt of a decision within which it can be may be subject to a challenge."