Shrewsbury player Dave Edwards' house plans refused by council
Shrewsbury Town and former Wolverhampton Wanderers footballer Dave Edwards has had an application to knock down a house and rebuild it on a grander scale refused.
The midfielder, who made an emotional return to Salop in January, had applied to knock down a current two-bed house in Pontesbury, near Shrewsbury, and replace it with a four-bedroom house and a detached garage.
The application had been recommended for refusal by planning chiefs and the Central Planning Committee went along with the suggestion on Thursday.
Shropshire Council planning officer Alison Tichford, said: “The local planning authority considers the principle of replacing the existing dwelling to be acceptable.
“However, the proposed replacement dwelling is materially larger and not sympathetic to the size, mass, character and appearance of the original cottage, and would introduce a large scale house type to this plot within the rural area where the maintenance of a supply of smaller, less expensive properties is the aim of adopted policy.
“In addition, the proposed development would have detrimental visual impact upon the local character and landscape as a result of its materially larger scale and its increased prominence in views from the west. The proposal is therefore considered to be contrary to the requirements of policies.
“The ‘fall back’ position is of smaller scale and not inappropriate in this location and there are no other material planning considerations that would justify a departure from adopted development plan policy in this case.”
However, the planning application gained support from many local residents and the local member.
The report added: “A site notice has been posted as required and seven neighbouring properties have been advised about the proposal and three comments have been received, generally in support of the dwelling but with some accompanying concerns.”
These included limited access and parking available and there should be no restrictions to residents movement and parking during or after construction, nor any temporary storage of material or equipment, and works should be Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.
Pontesbury Parish Council made initial comments of objection to the application on the grounds that it was more than a 50 per cent increase to the existing cottage footprint which would not be in keeping with current planning policies and that no justification had been provided to justify the departure from policy.
Following the receipt of revised plans, the parish council commented that they were now able to support the application in view of the changes to the height, overall size and design of the gables, although they did comment that they shared the concern of neighbours regarding the loss of hedgerows.
By Andrew Morris, Local Democracy Reporter
