Homes plan for Shrewsbury's Shelton Hospital site set for approval

The former Victorian asylum off Somersby Drive will be converted into 158 luxury flats and homes if proposals are approved at a meeting next Thursday.

Planning officers at Shropshire Council have recommended the scheme for approval, and developers Shropshire Homes say "almost all" of the historic buildings on the site will be retained.

It comes as a blow for members of junior football teams who say they will lose pitches they train on.

The plans will be discussed at the same meeting as proposals to turn offices at Princess House in The Square into 50 flats.

Further plans for the Shelton site include demolishing a former kitchen block and building parking areas, courtyards and community gardens and a further 82 houses in the hospital grounds. There will also be a new bowling green and pavilion.

The former mental hospital closed last year after being replaced by the new £46 million Redwoods mental health centre nearby.

Thirty three letters of objection have been sent to Shropshire Council.

Adrian Tomkins, manager of SAHA Storm under-12s which is set to lose its training pitch, said: "We are being forced out of the area and when that happens players will drop off and then the club could possibly fold.

"The disappointing thing is the lack of interaction with us by the developers. We haven't had much support really, and they haven't really engaged with us."

Youngsters who play for SAHA Storm turned up for training at the weekend with banners made in protest. Sport England, has also objected to the development.

Officials at Shelton Cricket Club say their boundary ropes would be close to the proposed homes, and have claimed people or property could be hit by cricket balls if the houses are built.

But one of the conditions suggested by planning officers would see protective netting set up around the pitch, while the club would be handed a new lease for the site.