Shifnal homes: Decision day set for housing scheme on site of abandoned swimming pool plans
Plans for more than 30 homes on the site of a town's abandoned swimming pool project will be decided next week.
The proposal from DBA Estates, for 34 homes on land to the north of Watts Drive in Shifnal, will go before Shropshire Council's Southern Planning Committee on Tuesday, November 25.
The proposal concerns a strip of land between the M54 and existing housing built off Haughton Road.
The plans show the access for the new development as through the existing estate.
The site was originally earmarked for a swimming pool in conditions for the previous development, along with the potential for allotments, but the project has never gone ahead.
Shropshire Council's planning department is recommending councillors turn the latest proposal down, citing a number of concerns over the scheme.
They include their own issues with the design of the site, that the land was originally planned for the benefit of the local community as part of the proposal for the existing housing estate back in 2012, and National Highways' worries about the noise from the M54.
The council also addressed the current issues it faces with its lack of an up-to-date local plan, or a five-year land supply, saying that it acknowledges the situation but believes the proposal still fails to meet national planning criteria.
A paper prepared for the meeting stated: "Whilst it is recognised that the site is within Shifnal’s development boundary, where the principle of residential development would not be inappropriate, the proposal exhibits fundamental flaws in respect of its design, layout, access and parking arrangements, pedestrian permeability, connectivity and noise amenity.
"As such the proposed development would not result in a sufficiently high-quality design as to be considered acceptable."
Referring specifically to the situation with the authority's local plan and five-year land supply the report stated: "NPPF [National Planning Policy Framework] requires new developments to result in well-designed places, and the proposed development would not adequately meet this requirement."
The report also highlighted concerns from National Highways, which has voiced worries about the fencing planned to block the noise from the nearby M54, as well as the air quality given its proximity to the major road.
National Highways has submitted a holding objection asking for more information.
Meanwhile the report specifically references the previous application for the existing estate - and the "expectation" that the land would be for the benefit of the community.
It said "it is clear that the intent" was that part of the side would be used to benefit the local community.
It stated: "The site is currently well used as public open space. An expectation remains on the part of the community and Shifnal Town Council that sufficient community benefit should be secured as part of the proposal through the provision of allotment land, parking and services, and secured through a suitably worded legal agreement."
The report highlighted other concerns, including highways safety, stating: "No transport statement or access strategy has been provided, and it has not been demonstrated that the proposed site accesses, visibility splays, carriageway layout and parking arrangements would not negatively impact highways safety or prioritise pedestrian and cycle movements."
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