Public art space in homes plan for Shrewsbury's Copthorne Barracks site

Developer Bellway Homes wants to build 218 dwellings on the historic site that was once home to the King's Shropshire Light Infantry after acquiring it from the Ministry of Defence.

Proposals for 228 homes by the MOD were previously given the nod by Shropshire Council.

Shrewsbury Town Council's planning committee discussed the revised scheme.

Councillor Ioan Jones, of the Harlescott ward, said he hoped there will be a feature installed to reflect it's military heritage.

Bellway's planning manager Chris O'Hanlon replied: "The public space has been included for that. There will be some public art to reflect the history of this site so that it it will not be lost."

"The open space has been positioned there so that there is an avenue in the middle. It has not been forgotten what this site used to be," he said.

Mr O'Hanlon also told the meeting that he had been on a walking tour of the town centre with committee member Julian Dean to view examples of street art in the town centre to get suitable ideas.

Councillor Jones also said he was concerned that the new residents will be affected by noise from the Territorial Army base that remains nearby.

Screening

"There are no trees lining the access road to protect the residents. I feel there is a need for screening between the TA centre and these homes.

"Some of their functions go on late into the evening, some all night and there are cadets coming and going, along with vehicles.

"It may be noisy for some residents," Councillor Jones said.

As part of the development a park will be created to reflect the land's military past, the historic barracks wall in Copthorne Road will be retained, 30 trees at the north boundary will be felled and replacements will be planted in the new back gardens.

The members were also told that there will be a number of affordable dwellings, including a separate 15-home estate.

Councillor Dean, of Porthill ward, said: "Most of the public objections are about trees. We probably need to look at whether some of the existing trees can be kept, for example the horse chestnuts. We need to investigate that.

"I'm not sure how effective the road safety is going to be. I'm annoyed that we have not had the response from highways as yet."

Mr O'Hanlon said his team would take in account the councillors concerns.

The town council has already given its backing to the re-development of the barracks land into housing.

Committee chairman Councillor Nat Green said: "We are not objecting to the reserved matters as a whole, but we have a number of points that we are concerned about."

The full application is due to go before Shropshire Council's planners next month.