Planning U-turn over Shrewsbury eco-homes is attacked

Miles Kenny, who represents Shrewsbury's Underdale ward, said the decision which will see two new luxury eco-homes being built on land overlooking the River Severn as "disappointing".

The plans, which had originally been refused, were granted consent at appeal earlier this week.

Last year, councillors turned down an application to build two eco-friendly homes on land alongside the river citing that it would destroy a wildlife corridor which had be the subject of a decades-long campaign.

But the developer, GC Rickards Ltd, took the matter to the Planning Inspectorate which this week overturned the decision and granted approval to the plan to build on land at Pengrove, north of Kingsland Road.

Now work on the two executive-style homes will start.

More than 100 residents objected to the original proposal, as did Shrewsbury Town Council, two residents associations and the Ramblers Association. A spate of planning applications by various parties for the overgrown land have faced opposition since 1979 .

The plans for two eco-friendly homes – with provision for six parking spaces at each property – were refused in October after councillors labelled the land alongside the River Severn Shrewsbury's lung and one of the town's most important heritage assets.

But the developer wanted to build the two large two large executive-style homes each with a swimming pool, home cinema, wine cellar and sauna.

A spokesman for Shrewsbury-based Les Stephen Planning, representing GC Rickards Ltd, said: "The development of this site has been the subject of numerous applications and appeals over the years and despite being recommended for approval by Shropshire Council's planning officers in October 2013, the application was refused by members of the central planning Committee contrary to this advice.

"In association with Niall Blackie of FBC Manby Bowdler and Simon Lamprell of Aedas Architects, an appeal was lodged immediately against this decision.

"The Planning Inspector's decision confirms our view that a really high quality, innovative, modernist design can contribute positively to the appearance of a conservation area despite a difference in style. We look forward to seeing the houses built: they will add to the vibrancy of Shrewsbury as an attractive place to live and will create two landmark riverside buildings which will achieve levels of domestic architecture not seen before in Shrewsbury. "

But local councillor Miles Kenny, who represents the Underdale ward, said: "This news is really disappointing.

"There has been a lot of resistance to developing these fields which have great ecological importance. We do wonder what localism means and protecting the environment means. It is appalling that the original decision to refuse planning has been overturned."