Bridgnorth shopping complex in line for approval

The planning application for the Old Smithfield development, in Bridgnorth, will be considered by the South Planning Committee on January 10 at Shirehall in Shrewsbury.

The application, submitted by Ziran Land Ltd, is for five retail units on what is currently used as a car park in the town.

Bridgnorth Town Council has opposed the plan claiming it would leave a lack of car parking spaces, especially on Saturdays when part of another car park was used for a market.

A petition against the development, backed by Bridgnorth Chamber of Commerce, reached almost 7,000 signatures, and 125 comments objecting to the development have been sent to Shropshire Council, while just two comments were in support.

Ziran Land director John Liggins had previously said the firm had gone to great lengths to address local concerns.

Developers said they could remove a recycling area at the back of the site to increase the number of car parking spaces, a proposal that Councillor Ray Gill branded "disgusting". Residents used online forums to explain why they thought the buildings proposed were not in keeping.

Resident Richard Fox, who was against the plans, said: "It's a shame because that will put additional pressure on town centre parking on Saturdays, because the buildings I've seen the plans for are ugly and not in keeping."

But resident Fraze Hill said the development would bring new jobs and shops to the town. She said: "Times move on and Bridgnorth won't survive with new hair salons or cards shops every six months."