Shropshire residents in campaign against building near listed property

An application has been submitted to build nine homes near the Grade II listed Provost's House, Provost Mews and The Old Stables off High Street in Edgmond, near Newport.

But a group of residents have formed a campaign group called Protect Heritage Edgmond, saying they are not opposed to development but it must be in the "right place" and not on green fields in a conservation area. The group held a public meeting earlier this month where 115 villagers voted against the proposal and just one said they would be in favour of it.

Rachel Storey, who lives at The Old Stables and Edgmond resident Keith Norton, led a tour of the village and said other green field sites were also at risk - and approval of the Provosts application could set a precedent.

Mr Norton said: "This is not a suitable site for any development since it would have a catastrophic effect on the views into the conservation area as you approach Edgmond from the Red House Pub roundabout and Lilleshall direction. It would ruin the setting of Provost's House which is a nationally important building with a 1,000 year history."

Mrs Storey, whose back garden backs on to the site under threat, said: "They are very significantly tall houses large executive homes, so there will be an impact.

"But the big issue for us is this is a conservation area. I think the conservation area needs protecting and there is a lovely sandstone wall which would partially be taken down and repositioned if this went ahead. It is a green space in a conservation area and when we spoke to the planners we learned it was cheaper to build on a green space than on a brownfield site.

"But at some point they need to start saying no to green field sites for building houses on and force the brownfield sites to become viable. If they continue to adopt this approach it is not going to stop people who own the land from putting in applications. We are not against development but it is about development in the right place."

She also pointed to the narrow road which would provide access to the site.

Rachel Taylor, who lives on Manor Road next to a field which has been identified for housing and could see an application submitted soon, added: "This is a conservation area. Shropshire is my home county and it is an important place and to have a conservation area damaged is wrong and absolutely devastating.

"It is not required. We feel like we are being invaded and quite sad about it. It just seems unnecessary. It is conservation for a reason it is obviously special and that is why we live here."

The Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard has also backed the group, saying: "I will be making a formal objection to this application at the highest level of the borough council. This development is neither sustainable or needed."

Group members are encouraging villagers to comment on the Provost's House application, TWC/2014/1132 before February 2.