Developer behind controversial plans for 800 homes in village near Wolverhampton gives 'robust' warning as scheme recommended for refusal
The developer behind plans for an 800-house development near Wolverhampton has expressed disappointment that the scheme has been recommended for refusal, and has said it will appeal if councillors turn it down.
The proposals from Boningale Developments for 800 homes in Albrighton will go before Shropshire Council's Southern Planning Committee on Tuesday (December 16).
The application includes not just 800 houses but also a care home, a secondary school, and a “local centre” on 48 hectares of land off Patshull Lane - but has proved controversial.
More than 1,000 objections have been submitted by residents, who have also formed a campaign group to block the plans.
The council has also designated the land “green belt” and earlier this week, council planning officers recommended that when it goes before the committee, councillors should reject the scheme.
Outlining the reasons for recommending the application be turned down in a paper, planning officers say the scheme does not comply with Shropshire Council's own planning policies, and would represent "inappropriate development in the green belt", adding that its location is also "unsuitable".
Boningale Developments said it was “disappointed” with the recommendation and urged committee members to “consider the huge infrastructure investment” and the “considerable financial undertaking of defending any refusal at appeal”.
A spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that our plans for Albrighton have been recommended for refusal by the local planning authority.
“Shropshire Council faces a severe housing land supply challenge and is unable to demonstrate sufficient land to meet the housing requirements set out by the Government.
"Our proposals can make a meaningful contribution to addressing the unmet need for new homes in Shropshire in a sustainable location.
“The council will be aware of the numerous benefits the scheme proposes for Albrighton and the wider community which carry substantial weight in planning policy. We strongly believe these vital benefits – including a secondary school, care home, local centre and a new GP surgery - will not be delivered without private investment.
“We wholeheartedly disagree with the council’s green belt assessment, which contradicts its own evidence base, and we will robustly defend the site at appeal should members agree with the officer's recommendation.
“We await the planning committee meeting and urge members to consider the proposals diligently and within national policy guidelines.
“We would urge members to seriously consider the huge infrastructure investment this scheme proposes along with the considerable financial undertaking of defending any refusal at appeal.
“This proposal has prompted a wide range of views and we have carefully considered feedback in the development of our planning application. We firmly believe our proposals would help to make Albrighton a more sustainable and vibrant place to live for generations to come.”
What do campaigners say?
Campaigners in Albrighton said council officers had made the right decision.
The Albrighton Development Action Group (ADAG) was formed when the plans were first revealed by developers and has been fundraising to fight the housing project.
The group said they "overwhelmingly agree" with the recommendation to refuse the plans.
A spokesperson added: "The planning application has prompted overwhelming criticism from the wider Albrighton community, including a 3,724-strong petition against the proposals (an estimated 80 per cent of the Albrighton electoral roll), and 1,127 public objections on the Shropshire planning portal.
"This clearly demonstrates the unprecedented and extraordinary levels of public interest in refusing the proposals, and we hope that this will be reflected in the decision of the Shropshire southern planning committee."
The group added "ADAG hopes that Boningale will respect the decision by the planning committee and withdraw their threat to take the proposals to Planning Inspectorate appeal and even further to the High Court.
"We urge the developer to have sense and listen to the people of Albrighton, who have been so clear in their overwhelming opposition to these overdevelopment plans."
- You can find out more about planning applications and planned roadworks where you live by visiting publicnoticeportal.uk
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