Huge Shrewsbury housing estate set to go-ahead after planners dismiss gridlock concerns

A huge Shrewsbury housing estate is set to be approved despite concerns from councillors it could worsen the town’s traffic problems.

Barwood Development Securities applied to Shropshire Council for permission to build 450 homes on a large site off Ellesmere Road.

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The site was originally included in Shropshire’s local plan and was described as “directly dependent” on the now-cancelled North West Relief Road being built - due to worries about the impact on Ellesmere Road.

But, before the matter went to Shropshire Council’s Northern Planning Committee in February of this year, the authority’s planning officers said they were satisfied the proposal could go ahead without the controversial relief road.

Councillors on the committee raised concerns at the situation, as well as over ‘active travel’ routes, leading to the decision being put off.

The delay has allowed council officers to assess the concerns, and the application is now due back at next Tuesday’s planning committee, recommended for approval.

Attached to the report proposing the plan is given the green light is an assessment which says the impact of the development is not enough to reject it.

Discussing how the vehicles from the homes will affect the town’s Chester Street and Castle Foregate it says traffic would have a three per cent impact in the morning, and a four per cent impact in the afternoon.

It said that the figure is below that needed for a bigger review, stating: “Therefore, it is considered that the development impact is below five per cent at any peak period, which is the recognised and agreed trigger for further assessment.

“Additional traffic is unlikely to impact junction operation; therefore, no further assessment is required.”

The report says that an offer has been made by the developer for active travel as part of the plan, and says that as long as conditions are followed for a travel plan, the access and phasing of the development, toucan crossing and footway improvements, and 106 contributions, then it is happy with the proposal.

It states: “Following the assessments undertaken, Shropshire Council as Local Highway Authority is satisfied that the development of 450 dwellings will not result in a significant impact on the transport network.”

The proposed access to the development is via one ghost island junction and one simple junction.

The development would include up to 450 residential dwellings

The development, which is planned in two phases, would include up to 450 residential dwellings – ranging from two-bed to five-bed.

Only 10 per cent of the development is proposed as affordable housing, and the site will include a ‘local centre’ measuring 0.25 hectares, and green infrastructure including play areas and landscaping.

Shrewsbury Town Council has made its position clear on the plan - saying it “strongly objected” to the proposal.

It said: “The proposed development will lead to increased traffic on the already congested Ellesmere Road.

“It is proposed that at least 150 homes would be built before the North West Relief Road may be built.

“This would lead to at least three per cent increase in traffic. - There is insufficient local infrastructure in place to accommodate the number of houses proposed. There are not enough schools, doctors and local transport to deal with this increase.”

Meanwhile the local NHS Integrated Care Board said the developers would need to provide funding for the increased impact on local medical services.

It said: “It is inevitable that a development of this size, which would deliver in the region of an additional 1,080 patients, would have a knock-on affect on local healthcare provisions.”