'Noisy' Shrewsbury workshop built without permission 'harmful' to neighbours' living conditions, inspector finds

The detached workshop - which has already been built - had been used for vehicle maintenance and, according to documents, had allowed for the employment of three full-time members of staff.

Now, a Government inspector has sided with the council, finding that the workshop has a harmful impact on the living conditions of neighbours.

The Shrewsbury business had twice failed to gain the local authority's approval for the construction, which had been built on the site between August and November 2023.

The first application was lodged in February 2024 after the council's planning enforcement team advised it was needed, but was rejected in April due to the lack of a noise report. 

A second application was lodged in September, this time including a noise report, but that too was rejected - and Shropshire Council ordered the building be taken down.

That application attracted concerns from Shropshire Council's Regulatory Services department, who said the building "is, frankly, in the worst location possible for such a development" due to its proximity to neighbours.

The department noted the "poor construction" of the building and said noise complaints had already been received from neighbouring properties. 

Objections raised to the development from neighbours said that excessive noise included banging, hammering, jet washing, engine revving, door slamming, horn blowing, music playing and loud conversations between workers.

Following the decision, the business was issued with a letter in November 2024, instructing them to cease using the building as a car workshop and to remove the "unauthorised building" from the site by December 20.

Appealing the decision on behalf of the business, The Planning Group Limited argued the site provided "valuable employment" and alternative options for the site could impact more heavily on neighbours. 

A range of recommendations were also suggested in the appeal documents, including the suggestion that no work would take place on a Sunday and there could be engagement with neighbours.

But the inspector determined that there was "a lack of specific or robust measures" to provide sufficient mitigation and threw out the appeal.

Dismissing the appeal, Government inspector U P Han, said the workshop "significantly harms the living conditions of the occupiers of neighbouring dwellings with regard to noise".

The report concluded: "The car workshop building provides jobs and utilises what was once a vacant site. However, given the small scale of the workshop building, these benefits would be modest.

"The moderate benefits of the development do not outweigh the significant harm."

The full decision is available to view online, on Shropshire Council's planning portal, using reference number: 25/03322/REF