Plans for 96 homes could increase population of Shropshire village by 50 per cent
A village between Shrewsbury and Much Wenlock could see a major expansion as outline plans for nearly a hundred homes and a new park go before planners.
An outline planning application has been submitted to Shropshire Council that would see up to 96 homes built on the edge of Cressage, a village next to the River Severn.
The scheme covers 8.6 hectares of farmland off Shrewsbury Road and Shore Lane, and includes new housing and a new country park.
The land is part of the colossal Raby Estate, made up of more than 61,000 acres split between Shropshire and County Durham, which has been in the custodianship of the Vane family for hundreds of years.
Run by Lord Barnard, Henry Francis Cecil Vane, the estate includes around 6,500 acres between Shrewsbury and Telford, mostly made up of let farmland and commercial woodlands.
A planning statement with the application said: "The site at Shore Lane provides a unique opportunity to deliver a development of exceptional quality, that meets the needs of the community and is delivered by a landowner/developer that has a long-term interest and stewardship role in the local area, focused on legacy outcomes rather than short-term gain.
"This development will be sympathetic to the character of Cressage and help strengthen the community and sense of place."
According to documents, the development has been shaped by more than five years of technical work and consultation.
Earlier versions included employment units and higher-density housing, but these have been scaled back in response to community and council feedback.
The proposal sets out a mix of mainly three- and four-bed family homes, alongside some smaller units and a small apartment block closer to the village centre.
According to calculations by the developer, the scheme would likely house between 350 and 380 people - a 50 per cent increase in the village's current population of around 730.
A 1km pedestrian and cycle route would run from the development to Harley Road, through a newly created linear park.
The route is designed to provide accessible access to the village shop, school, medical centre and bus stops in a move that the developer claims will help address concerns about narrow pavements on Cressage’s main roads.
The full application is open for consultation until Wednesday, December 10, and is available to view online on Shropshire Council's planning portal using reference number 25/04124/OUT.
Comment Guidelines
Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.