Parish council “strongly objects” to affordable housing plan

Plans for 18 affordable homes in a village have been recommended for approval – despite strong objection from the parish council.

Severnside Housing wants to build the homes off Mount Close in Pontesbury, near Shrewsbury.

Pontesbury Parish Council said the homes would have an adverse impact on the landscape and not be sustainable.

Shropshire Council is recommending its Central Planning Committee gives the plans the green light at a meeting at Shirehall next Thursday.

Shannon Franklin, planning case officer, said: “The application seeks planning permission for the erection of 18 affordable dwellings and all associated works as a rural exception site immediately adjacent to the settlement boundary of Pontesbury.

“The proposal seeks to provide four one-bedroomed bungalows, two two-bedroomed bungalows, eight two-bedroomed houses and four three-bedroomed houses all accessed via a new road adjoining the existing Mount Close to the north.

“The application site is located to the southern edge of the village of Pontesbury, a village extending either side of the A448, located 11.3km to the south west of Shrewsbury, 5.4k km south-east of Hanwood and Hanwood Bank and 2.6km north-east of Minsterley.

“The site lies outside the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural beauty, the nearest boundary of which is 630m to the south-east of the site.

“Pontesbury contains a variety of services and facilities including primary and secondary schools, shops, restaurants and doctors.

“The site currently occupies a grassed field used for agriculture. The field is regular in shape and orientated on a slight north-east-south-west access.

“The sites boundaries to all four sides are formed of established field hedges with some mature trees located along the south-eastern edge.

“The access to the site is via a field gate to the north-east boundary onto Mount Close.

“A second field gate in the sites southern most corner leads into the subsequent agricultural field to the south west.”

In its objection, Pontesbury Parish Council said: “Pontesbury Parish Council strongly object to this application for the following reasons.

“The previous application and planning inspector’s report emphasised that development on this site was not sustainable and there is no evidence in the present application to override this.

“Considerable concern about the adverse impact on the landscape character of this area which forms part of the immediate setting of the village and is near the AONB.

“Little evidence of benefit of reduction in grade three agricultural land.

“An unsuitable location on the edge of the village for social housing with the distance from local facilities for elderly residents or families with young children.

“Very considerable concerns about increased flooding risks and drainage issues associated. Considerable concerns about increased pedestrian traffic accessing the site along Brookside.

“The parish council supports more affordable homes but this is an unsuitable location for the above reasons.”