Delight as 'overkill' Shropshire homes scheme rejected

Dozens cheered and applauded after Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee defied the recommendation and rejected the application at 12 Tibberton, at a meeting last night.

They had earlier lobbied those attending the meeting, standing outside with home-made placards and banners.

But planning officers who had advised approval warned that an appeal could follow at some cost to the authority.

White Acre Estates Limited wanted to build 60 houses, of which 36 would be market value, 12 social rented and 12 intermediate housing.

Councillor Ian Fletcher declared it was "the worst application I have ever seen".

He said: "It's a massive application for 60 houses which are totally inappropriate. It will overload the village."

Councillor Chris Turley said: "I'm going to be blunt I believe this application is overkill for the village of Tibberton."

Councillor Nigel Dugmore said: "I have to say I agree. Everyone accepts that limited development in a controlled manner is acceptable but this is quite honestly unsustainable. The facilities in the village will be stretched and we know the school is full. There is little employment in the village so there's going to be an increase in traffic."

Michael Barker, Telford & Wrekin Council's head of planning, warned councillors if they turned down the application there would be "a high probability of an appeal and the consequence of that is expense to the council."

But the committee stuck to its guns and voted against the plan, much to the delight of the dozens of residents who had sat through two hours of other applications to hear the fate of the village.

The 60-house plan was considered after a bid for another 34 houses in the village off Back Lane and Plantation Road was deferred for more information to be gathered.

Councillor Eric Ashcroft of Tibberton and Cherrington Parish Council said the village had 201 houses and if the two applications had gone ahead it would have meant an increase in houses of 47 per cent.

The 34-house plan was deferred for more information to be gathered relating to location, impact on the natural environment, provision of school places and drainage.