Council to sign off self-build homes plot

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Tuesday, 4 June 2019 20:29

By Andrew Morris - Local Democracy Reporter

Up to 50 self-build homes are set to be constructed in Shrewsbury after Shropshire Council signed off land it owns for the project.

The authority said 47 plots will be up for grabs at the six-hectare site on London Road, off the A5.

The council’s cabinet is set to discuss the plan behind closed doors next week, but Adrian Cooper, the authority’s planning policy manager, said he was excited by the project.

He said: “We are really excited to be giving this land up for this type of development.

“It is an idea that is catching interest across the country and this is the first example of it happening in Shropshire.

“We have a plot of land owned by the council off London Road, near the Emstrey Island on the A5. It is before you come to the crematorium and set back from the road towards the river.

“We are going to get cabinet approval that the land is set aside for 47 plots which will then be turned into self-build homes.”

He added: “This is really exciting because rather than one type of house homogenised as many modern estates are I expect they will be of all shapes and sizes within reason.

“It is a really exciting project to be a part of and the council has already won an award for how we have begun planning for this.”

He said the main aim of releasing the land for sale is to provide serviced plots to residents to build their own homes.

The scheme will bring forward a sustainable site for development in an area that has access to the historic town centre and local amenities, events, schools and key employment sites.

The site will access a main transport corridor from the A5 into the centre of town and is adjacent to an employment site.

Councillor Robert Macey, portfolio holder for housing and strategic planning, said: “It is an exciting project it could be like a street of Grand Designs homes.

“We want to encourage high quality design for the site.”