Plan for 300-home Shrewsbury estate is unveiled

Developer Taylor Wimpey has applied for permission to build 292 properties in Sutton Grange, off Oteley Road, taking up nearly 40 acres of agricultural land between the Meole Brace golf course and Sutton Farm.

The proposals are the first to be put in by a housebuilder after Shropshire Council backed the Shrewsbury South Sustainable Urban Extension blueprint last October.

Under the plans, 900 homes will be built over 15 years with the Shrewsbury Business Park expanding and a 22-hectare employment site being created near to Shrewsbury Town's Greenhous Meadow ground.

The first phase of the Taylor Wimpey scheme would see 145 homes built, the creation of an access road from Oteley Road and public open space adjacent to the Reabrook. The second phase would see the completion of 147 more homes.

Among the schemes already given the go-ahead in the area is the £40 million shopping centre development in Oteley Road, which will include a Waitrose store and the Percy Thrower's Garden Centre relocated to a 60,000 sq ft site.

A statement from Taylor Wimpey said: "New high quality homes will be created which will improve the range, affordability and quality of housing currently available in the area.

"The new housing will be on a site which is closely related to the new retail uses which have been granted planning consent south of Oteley Road and will create an environment where people can live within easy access of facilities within Shrewsbury town."

The scheme includes apartments, terraced houses and detached homes with up to five bedrooms.

A spokesman for Taylor Wimpey said: "The development is planned in a way which respects the setting of listed buildings close to the site and which protects the character of the Rea Valley whilst exploiting long distance views towards the direction of Shrewsbury town."

The plans are open to public consultation until April 4 with the council due to make a decision on the proposals by June 7.