Ellesmere homes plan agents say 'ignore' boundary changes
Changes to Shropshire Council's SAMDev planning document should be disregarded when a final ruling is made on plans to create homes next to the Mere beauty spot in Ellesmere, the agents behind the scheme have claimed.
Greenspace Architects has written to the Government Planning Inspectorate, claiming the changes are "irrelevant" to the scheme to build 10 homes off Church Street.
The plans will now be decided on by a Government planning inspector after applicants Rosemary and Chris Horton lost patience with councillors.
Shropshire Council has admitted it failed to determine the application within the prescribed eight-week time frame.
But it has blamed the delay on staff shortages and more information being required before it could make a final ruling on the application.
In a bid to speed up the process the applicants have lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate on the grounds of non-determination by the council.
In a letter to the inspectorate, agents said: "It is only the extended time frame involving lack of resourcing and long response times from the council's officers that has frustrated the process leading to this appeal and allowed time for the SAMDev to be adopted.
"In our opinion the boundary change in the SAMDev is irrelevant to this application and should be disregarded."
In December the SAMDev planning document moved a step forward after being adopted by the council at a meeting.
It came after Government inspector Claire Sherratt signed off the county-wide document, which lays out Shropshire Council's plans to build 27,500 homes by 2026.
Councillor Malcolm Price, portfolio holder for regulatory services, housing and commissioning, said it was a vital document.
He said the inspector concluded that the plan is "sound and legally compliant", and provides an appropriate basis for the planning of the county, providing that a number of specific modifications are made.
Plans to build the homes next to the beauty spot in Ellesmere, which attracts thousands of visitors each year, have come under fire from residents and town councillors who want the area left alone.
The appeal is to be decided by written representations, rather than a full hearing, in the coming months.
