New relief road needed for Whitchurch homes plan to get green light, say councillors

Whitchurch Town Council believes the road would ease concerns over traffic if plans to build the homes off Liverpool Road get the go ahead.

The proposal has come under fire from residents and councillors amid fears it could lead to increased traffic on a busy road.

People living in Whitchurch fear proposals to build 72 homes on land off Liverpool Road would also put additional strain on schools in the area.

Persimmon Homes has submitted a full application to Shropshire Council for the scheme. But local residents and Whitchurch Town Council have already raised objections.

A statement on behalf of the town council said the application was outside Shropshire Council's Site Allocations and Management of Development plan, also known as SAMDev.

It states: "The town council would like to see more two-bedroom houses and bungalows for the elderly or disabled.

"If the application is considered then a relief road should be considered as the traffic will be too congested without it."

Commenting on Shropshire Council's website, one resident, said: "Access to Liverpool Road is already a problem with heavy traffic on Wrexham Road.

"A number of houses have been built in that area with, I believe, planning permission to build more on Wrexham Road which will cause greater congestion. Whitchurch has a number of approved housing developments and I have concerns regarding the local infrastructure i.e. education and health provision in the long-term.

"The residents in the immediate vicinity of this proposal have endured constant building work over the last seven years or so with noise and dust pollution."

A statement on behalf of Persimmon Homes, said: "The proposal aims to contribute towards the high demand for housing in the local area, whilst offering additional benefits to the surrounding residents and local community.

"Persimmon Homes is proposing affordable housing units across the site, which amounts to a 10 per cent provision.

"The site is currently green land and occasionally used as farmland. The immediate surrounding area is largely developed due to a new residential development adjacent to the site, with some green land to the west.

"Consultation was also undertaken with the local community. Persimmon has sought to achieve this through leaflets which were sent out to all local residents."