Massive 450-home Shrewsbury development set for approval despite opposition - here's why
A huge 450-home Shrewsbury development is set for approval despite opposition.
Shropshire Council's planning department has recommended that councillors give the green light to the plans from Barwood Developments for a piece of land off Ellesmere Road, when they meet next Tuesday (February 17).
The land for the proposed estate is a large area between the railway line and the west of Ellesmere Road.
Access to the site for cars would be off Ellesmere Road. One access would be provided for the initial 150-home phase one of the development, with a second added at a later stage as the rest of the project goes ahead.
The proposal was originally included in Shropshire's draft local plan for 2016 to 2038 - but with the expectation that it would be built alongside Shrewsbury's planned North West Relief Road (NWRR).
But in assessing the plans the council's highways officials have said they are happy for the scheme to go ahead without the controversial relief road, which has been placed on hold and effectively cancelled.
A report prepared for members of Shropshire Council's northern planning committee, which will be tasked with whether or not to approve the scheme, explains the opposition and concerns over the plans.
Shrewsbury Town Council, local councillor Alexander Phillips, Sustainable Transport Shropshire, Shropshire Playing Fields Association, and Shrewsbury Friends of the Earth object, while Shrewsbury Civic Society has expressed concern.
The town council's lengthy objection statement referred to worries about the increase in traffic, as well as impact on local schools and health services.
It said: "The proposed development will lead to increased traffic on the already congested Ellesmere Road."
It added: "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."
The town council is also critical that the developers are offering to provide only 10 per cent of the estate as affordable housing.
The council's own highways officials said the development "would not result in unacceptable impacts on highway safety".
The highways plans for the development would include two new access junctions from Ellesmere Road, a new toucan crossing on Ellesmere Road, upgraded footway/cycleway links along the site frontage, as well as payment to improve bus services.
Impact on schools
The developers will also have to pay a total of £1.978 million in contribution to local education services, specifically for secondary and special educational needs (SEN) places.
The report said that although the nearby primaries are full, there may be space at others.
It stated: "The school catchment areas comprise Greenfields and Mount Pleasant (Primary School) which are both full and expected to remain so. However, the next two schools do show that they may have capacity going forward."
But it added that there is no space at Shrewsbury's secondary schools, with the development expected to require 63 places for pupils.
The council report explained: "In terms of secondary and SEND schooling, Shrewsbury is treated as one catchment area, whereby all secondary provision is full.
"There is not enough capacity for new Year 7 children transferring each year. Additional children will have an impact upon the school system.
"The council are exploring the construction of a new secondary school in Shrewsbury to alleviate pressures being created from all developments within the conurbation. SEND provision is also already at capacity, so contributions are required in regard to this provision and associated transport."
The report also highlights the concerns over the impact on places at GP surgeries, stating: "The proposed development will inevitably have a knock-on effect on local healthcare provisions."
It asks for a £744,176 towards health care services.
The report explains that the main reason for recommending the development for approval is the council's lack of a five-year land supply - a government policy requiring councils to have a certain amount of housing planned for the future.
Currently Shropshire Council is short of its quota of housing to meet a five-year supply.
As a result planning officers have to consider the development against the Government's National Planning Policy Framework criteria - which sets out a balance to measure whether to approve the plan.
The council report explained that when judged against the criteria, the lack of a five-year land supply means the proposal should be approved.
It stated: "In light of the council’s current housing land supply position, and having regard to the NPPFs presumption in favour of sustainable development, the proposal represents a sustainable form of development. On balance, the material considerations indicate that planning permission should be granted."
A decision will be taken at next week's meeting.
Comment Guidelines
Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.