Affordable homes plan for Much Wenlock given the green light

Plans from housing group Connexus for phase two of its Callaughtons Ash development to the south of the town had been recommended for refusal by planning officers, who said the scheme could exacerbate existing flooding issues.

But Shropshire Council’s southern planning committee said they were confident that current drainage concerns would be overcome and granted planning permission.

Shropshire Council’s drainage team, Much Wenlock Town Council and Much Wenlock Flood Group all objected to the application along with three members of the public. There were however three letters of support.

A statement from a member of the public was read to the committee, saying it was vital that local authorities provide enough social housing for people who need it.

She said: “The need in Much Wenlcok is for affordable homes.

“The issue of flooding is a separate issue which the developer of Callaughtons Ash is not and should not be responsible for solving.”

Shortage

The town’s unitary councillor David Turner also spoke in favour of the development.

He said there was an “acute shortage of affordable housing in Much Wenlock versus the demand,” with 49 households on the waiting list for a home in the town.

Councillor Turner said: “The proposal offers a range of housing sizes and tenures. This will satisfy multiple local needs and has attracted the support of Shropshire Council’s housing enablement and development team.”

He said the homes would be built to environmentally-friendly Passivhaus standards and in a “sustainable” location close to the primary school and other amenities.

Councillor Turner added: “Elsewhere in the town, windfall sites for new and in some cases large and expensive market houses receive planning consent.

“Meanwhile this site which meets a clearly identified local need for affordable homes, as opposed to private housing that fulfils lifestyle ambitions, is recommended for refusal.”

Sustainability

A statement from Paul Neep, agent to Connexus, said the properties already built in phase one were “some of the most sustainable homes in the country”, and would feature in a Sunday Times article this weekend on the greenest streets in Britain.

Phase two, he said, would be built to even higher standards, with air source heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Mr Neep said previous flooding in the gardens of some of the homes in phase one had been addressed by Connexus, and the housing association was “confident this won’t happen again”.

Councillor Tony Parsons said he was confident the council’s drainage officers could work with Connexus to overcome any outstanding drainage issues.

Councillor Simon Harris proposed granting planning permission, saying: “It’s exactly what this county needs and I will support this development wholeheartedly.”

The committee voted to approve the application by seven votes to one, with one abstention.