New homes plan for run-down former Shifnal engineering works gets go-ahead despite parking fears

The application put forward by housebuilder Shingler Homes Ltd will see nine new homes built on the former Victoria Works engineering site in Shifnal after the scheme was given the green light this week.

Shropshire Council said that the site had "not been in active use for a considerable period of time" and had fallen into a state of disrepair, which was detracting from the character and appearance of the town''s conservation area.

A historic sandstone building which fronts onto Shrewsbury Road will be retained and converted into five homes under the plans, while part of the site is set to be demolished to make way for four new semi-detached houses.

The proposals generated more than 60 objections from local residents, mostly over parking concerns on busy Shrewsbury Road.

A spokesperson for the applicant had previously stated that the vehicle intensity of the proposed residential use would be "far less" than the previous vehicle repair business, and would "significantly improve the highway safety in the vicinity of the site".

But residents were unconvinced - with one referring to the scale of the scheme as "greedy", while another said its approval would "significantly reduce the available on-street parking" for visitors to nearby St Mary's Church.

Making their decision, planning officers ruled that the 19 car parking spaces included as part of the development would be sufficient to allay those concerns, despite a further loss of spaces on Shrewsbury Road due to parking restrictions around the access road to the site.

Approval for the scheme brings a close to several decades of speculation regarding the long-term future of the site as residential accommodation, which had been most recently used by a vehicle repair business until it was sold this year.

Council planners had resisted earlier housing plans for the site, with a scheme for six homes and an office block put forward in 2006 refused due to fears over a loss of available employment sites in the town.

A smaller housing development put forward two years later was also rejected by Bridgnorth District Council on the same grounds.

A report by Shropshire Council's planning team said that "more appropriate" designated employment sites now exist within the town.

The full plans are available to view online using Shropshire Council's planning portal using reference number 25/01470/FUL.