Economic growth across Shropshire ‘at risk’ as cheaper homes wane

While there are plenty of luxury homes on offer, anyone wanting to live in our county on a budget is struggling.

Today a stark warning was made by planning experts that action is needed to ensure Shropshire maintains the skills it needs.

It is an issue that will be discussed this week by the council’s places overview and scrutiny committee.

The council’s planning policy manager Adrian Copper states in a report: “In qualitative terms, there has been a tendency for the type of housing to reflect the greatest marketability – which is for larger, detached properties.

“However, Shropshire is acknowledged as having a low–wage economy and such housing is therefore often beyond the means of local employees and existing residents. This issue presents a significant risk to economic growth since there is a clear and growing mismatch between housing needs and the housing options available.

“This, in turn, may lead to residents moving out of the county to other areas which offer higher wages and/or more affordable housing options and this may restrict the ability for local businesses to attract and retain the required number of employees.”

He says more affordable homes have become available on the open market at a rate of 440 per year as a result of national planning policy changes in 2014, but this number is likely to fall.

Mr Cooper says more needs to be done to increase choice and policy needed to be worked into the Local Plan Review, setting out planning policies for the future.

He warns: “We are becoming increasingly aware that employers are finding it difficult to attract staff and to retain staff due to the unavailability of suitable housing. Added to this is the problem of retaining graduates and younger economically active individuals in the county.”

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Brain drain fear in call for cheaper housing across Shropshire

The council has introduced a programme to encourage rural communities to look at future housing needs. Right Home Right Place surveys have been carried out in Prees, Condover and Longden while a further 24 parishes are due to to be reviewed. One area where the issue has been tackled is Much Wenlock, where all 12 affordable homes at Callaughtons Ash were snapped up as soon as they were put up for sale, as part of a partnership between Meres & Mosses and South Shropshire housing associations.

Described as an ‘exceptional site’, the eco-friendly homes were built on land outside of the parish local plan with Shropshire Council’s blessing after the developers were able to demonstrate there was a need for them.

They have enabled people like Jodie Rhodes and her partner Michael Doughty to stay in their home town, Jodie’s great grandfather owned A R Wellings butchers located in Sheinton Street in the 1930s and her extended family are nearby.

She said: “I am so excited to be moving back to Much Wenlock. My daughter is attending the local nursery and I’ll be able to walk to and from work, saving me transport costs.”

Mr Copper said sites like Callaughtons Ash are an incentive for developers to come up with ways to create provision, adding: “They wouldn’t normally get permission, but it is delivering a type of housing tailored to the town’s needs.

“Callaughton is on the edge of the town and close to the school and shops. People were queuing up to live there.”

Telford-based Wrekin Housing Group says it has a strong track record of developing homes for affordable rent across the county, but is keen to do more.

Spokesman Edward Thomas said: “This year the trust was ranked seventh in the country in the list of housing associations increasing their stock by the highest percentage. “We are currently building 185 properties across 10 sites in the Shropshire Council area and we have a healthy pipeline of future developments.

“However we recognise there is still more demand for affordable properties and the trust is keen to work with landowners, developers and local authorities to deliver even more affordable homes.”