Number of bungalows on Ludlow green dropped

But a town council is still objecting to the idea of building on the green bordered by Sidney Road, Sheet Road and Charlton Rise at Ludlow.

Shropshire Housing Group, behind the plans, has now submitted formal plans showing fewer bungalows – five instead of seven – taking up less space on the green, which sits next to the group's existing social housing in the area.

Ludlow Town Council previously suggested the area was important to the community and should be designated a “town park”, a proposal that is now off the table as it is too late to submit for such a designation.

But the council was successful in getting a six-month tree protection order on all three remaining Norway maples, also known as acers, on the site, though one is still slated to be cut down as part of the revised plans.

Tracey Huffer, Shropshire councillor for Ludlow East, has requested that the plans are called in to be decided by the authority's south planning committee, due to their controversial nature.

Fellow Ludlow councillor and south planning committee member Andy Boddington said: "Under the revised proposals, there will be five bungalows rather than seven. They will be aligned with the existing bungalows and a greater area of green space will be retained. The Norway maple, originally one of two, will be felled.

"Temporary tree protection orders protect the remaining trees. Shropshire Housing Group can apply to have these lifted at any point. There is no legal protection on the green space, town green status cannot be applied for after a planning application has been submitted."

He said six new common oak trees will be planted as part of the plan. He said people had until June 23 to comment on Shropshire Council's planning portal.

"As a member of the planning committee, I intend not to comment on this application until it reaches committee," he said.

Gina Wilding, Ludlow town clerk, said the town council "strongly objected" on the grounds that "the amenity value of the land is significant to the residents, who have enjoyed the use of the land for over twenty years; the development would be detrimental to the visual amenity of the area; the existing footpath and the bridleway are on the definitive map; and there are tree protection orders on all three trees on the site."

Shropshire Housing Group says the new bungalows are planned for “underused” areas around Ludlow as there was a “dire need” for more social housing for the elderly close to the town centre with very few available sites to build.