Loppington firm wins planning battle to relocate

A Shropshire firm has won its planning battle against villagers to store plant machinery close to their homes after a Government inspector stepped in.

Hawk Plant Hire, in Loppington, near Wem, wants to relocate all of its business to a site in Prees Green, near Whitchurch.

But two planning applications for the firm to store farm and plant machinery on land opposite its new headquarters in Cruckmoor Lane, Prees Green, were refused by Shropshire Council when residents and Prees Parish Council objected.

Now the family-run firm, which employs about 300 people nationwide, has won its appeal against the refusal subject to conditions. Residents and the parish council raised objections about noise, road safety, visual impact and unsuitability of the site.

But in a decision notice, the Government's planning inspector said: "There is no compelling evidence before me to indicate that the movement of vehicles to and from the site would unacceptably harm highway safety."

Shropshire Council refused the original applications saying the greenfield site was unsuitable for industrial use.