Homes plan submitted for site of abandoned Shifnal swimming pool project
Developers are seeking permission to build 34 homes on the site of an abandoned Shifnal swimming pool project.
DBA Estates has submitted an application to Shropshire Council requesting consent for 34 homes on land to the north of Watts Drive in Shifnal.
The site for the land is the strip between the M54 and Taylor Wimpey housing built off Haughton Road.
The site was originally earmarked for a swimming pool in conditions for the Taylor Wimpey development, along with the potential for allotments.
Under the terms of the agreement, after the 200th home of the site was occupied the land was made available for transfer to a community group for the construction of a swimming pool.
However, the transfer has not taken place in the five-year period, which has now elapsed.
A design and access statement submitted with the plans said: "Part of the land was originally set aside for a new swimming pool as part of the overall residential development of the area and a planning application submitted and subsequently [approved] back in 2016.
"However, the five-year period since the occupation of the 200th dwelling has now clearly elapsed within no transfer to a community group having occurred."
A planning statement from DBA Estates describes it as "unlikely" there will be demand for extra swimming facilities.
It stated: "Given the current economic climate and threats to existing leisure facilities, it is considered unlikely that demand for additional swimming facilities will materialise."
The latest proposal is for 34 homes, with 18 two-bedroom houses and 16 three-bedroom units.
The planning statement adds: "Four of the two-bed properties are proposed as bungalows in order to support the Local Plan’s objective of meeting the needs of older residents."
Seven of the homes will be affordable including one of the bungalows.
Two access roads for the development will be included from Watts Drive.
The statement also says the potential traffic noise from the M54 will be a consideration in how the development is designed.
It says: "One of the key issues to be addressed in developing the layout was the potential impact of noise from the M54 to the north and the Newport Road to the east.
"Accordingly, following acoustic advice, the design seeks to locate the dwellings to the south of the development site with less noise-sensitive uses, i.e. parking, being located to the north.
"The orientation of the dwellings also reflects this issue with habitable rooms being located on the southern side of the dwellings.
"The massing of the dwellings to north also form a noise buffer to the rest of the site together the dwellings to the south of Watts Drive on the Taylor Wimpey development."
A decision on the proposal will be taken at a later date.
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