Fresh criticism on Oswestry hillfort homes bid

Proposed guidelines for the 117 houses in Shropshire's SAMDev local plan have been dismissed as "impossible to implement".

The latest criticism, by The British Archaeological Trust and the Prehistoric Society, is in response to modifications made by Inspector Claire Sherratt as her examination of the plan comes to a close.

Modifications to the hillfort allocation have been taken from a statement of common ground negotiated between Shropshire Council and Historic England.

But the 300-word document has been called ambiguous, inappropriate and contrary to national planning policy. The local campaign group Hoooh – Hands Off Old Oswestry Hillfort – has challenged the fairness and transparency of introducing, outside of public consultation, a signed agreement for the development.

Neil Phillips, from Hoooh, said The British Archaeological Trust and the Prehistoric Society's arguments had "dismantled" the SAMDev local plan.

A spokesman for The British Archaeological Trust said: "It is inappropriate and also contrary to national planning policy to allocate this site for development without the archaeological significance of the site having already been established through appropriate assessment and evaluation."

He said he doubted claims that the development could be screened from the hillfort, adding: "Conservation of views cannot be maintained if development proceeds on this site, so this principle is impossible to implement."

In a letter of representation for The Prehistoric Society, president Dr Alex Gibson disputes the same point on preserving long distance views, saying: "This cannot be achieved by constructing 117 dwellings within the immediate setting. To compromise the setting and impede views both from and to the monument must be considered as significant harm."

Mr Phillips said: "The experts make it clear that housing would obviously adversely affect the setting of the Old Oswestry hillfort. Between them, these responses completely dismantle the SAMDev policy statement and design principles that supposedly make the hillfort development sound."

Described as the "Stonehenge of the Iron Age", the 3,000-year-old hillfort is a scheduled monument as is the medieval defence, Wat's Dyke, which incorporates the hillfort as it crosses north-south through Oswestry.

The inspector is expected to submit her approved plan to Shropshire Council for adoption this autumn.

Nobody was available for comment at Shropshire Council.