Whitchurch set to be transformed as 15-year homes plan approved

Planners have approved the project to develop land off Tilstock Road. The scheme also includes space earmarked for football and cricket pitches as well as car parking and changing facilities.

It comes more than a year after the scheme was first put forward by Gladman Developments in January 2014.

Whitchurch mayor Mike McDonald said it was positive news, adding: "I think it is a sign of how our town is growing now.

"Over the past 12 to 18 months we have experienced a great deal of inward investment into the town and I think it is really good news.

"I think people in the town will welcome it and I hope they welcome all the opportunities it affords."

Planning officers for Shropshire Council gave permission to the plans using delegated powers and said that the site had been promoted as "the largest housing allocation within Whitchurch".

The site covers a total of 27.47 hectares made up of 13 small agricultural fields.

Officer Tim Rogers said: "The provision of the sports facilities, including the cricket pitch, sports pitches and clubhouse are all community benefits."

He said plans had been supported by most people in the town, especially as it created a new school for the town.

Simon Lyon of the town's Chamber of Trade and Commerce had said that the expansion of Whitchurch "could only be a good thing".

Developers said they expected about 25 to 30 homes to be built each year meaning the site could take up to 15 years to complete, something Whitchurch Town Council hopes could be reduced.

But in its supporting documents for the proposal Gladman said it would bring about 985 new residents to the area, with about 790 employed.

It said: "These new residents would support shops and services in the local community, with estimated £2.9 million of annual household expenditure in Whitchurch town itself and £4.5 million in Shropshire as a whole."

It is not yet known how many jobs could be created by the food store, which would cover 20,000 square metres of the development.

No one from Gladman Developments Ltd was available to comment.