Protest group to focus on huge Shrewsbury homes plan

They are being organised by campaigners to give people the chance to have their say over the first phase of development on land off Welshpool Road in Bicton Heath, which will include almost 300 homes, a hotel and a petrol station.

The first meeting will be held by members of Shrewsbury West Residents Group at the Four Crosses pub in Bicton on Wednesday.

Proposals for the first phase of development were unveiled by David Wilson Homes and Jennings Estates last week. Money will also be paid towards the eventual building of a new link road should outline planning permission be granted.

It is hoped up to 750 homes will be built in the area over the coming years.

David Kilby, a spokesman for the residents' group, said the meeting on Wednesday will start at 7pm and will focus on transport issues.

He said the group is calling for developers and Shropshire Council to work with local communities on developing neighbourhood plans to help guide building work.

"Planning should be about engaging communities in working directly with developers and local councils to produce local plans that reflect the holistic needs of communities for generations to come," Mr Kilby said.

"The group is keen that residents from all over Shrewsbury should comment on the plans and are staging a number of promotional events in order to make more people aware of what is being proposed including hosting a series of public meetings."

Other concerns raised by the residents' group include the lack of sports facilities or a secondary school in the plans. If outline planning permission is granted, work could start on building 297 homes later this year.

Jon Rowson, planning manager for David Wilson Homes Mercia, said: "If it is approved by Shropshire Council we envisage work beginning on this project in late 2014, with the first homes being complete in 2015. It is hoped that this will provide local training and employment opportunities.

"This planning application follows months of public consultation, and is in line with the council's local housing plan for the growth of Shrewsbury."

The development has been earmarked for almost 24 hectares of greenfield land at Churncote.

According to a design and access statement from RPS Planning & Development and BBLB Architects, the proposed link road would potentially form a leg of a future North West Relief Road.

A proposed NWWR was dropped in 2011 due to a lack of cash, but the idea remains an aspiration from the council. It would create a four-mile bypass from Churncote island west of Shrewsbury to the roundabout on Ellesmere Road.