1,100 objections raised against 800-home Shropshire scheme

More than 1,100 objections have been raised against plans for 800 homes on 50 hectares of greenbelt land in the Shropshire village of Albrighton.

Boningale Homes is seeking planning permission to build 800 houses, a 750-pupil secondary school, a 70-bed care home and a supermarket in Albrighton, a move that has sparked anger from local residents.

The developer says the scheme would deliver 1,200 jobs and bring £60m to Shropshire and the local economy, and after carrying out “an extensive public consultation process” it’s aware of concerns.

Boningale says: “We are confident this is a very positive scheme for Albrighton which delivers key facilities as well as new homes.

“This proposal is an important step towards meeting the need for good quality housing across Shropshire and the Black Country”.

Campaigners argue that the development would drive an increase in traffic, create road closures, put pressure on medical and transport infrastructure, as well as alter the village’s character by increasing its size by more than 60%.

Albrighton Village Action Group (AVAG), a volunteer-led organisation, recently handed in a 3700-strong petition to Shropshire Council against the development.

Charlie Blakemore, Co-Chair of AVAG, commented: “We know that residents of the village are furious at Boningale Homes plan to rip the heart out of our village and destroy quality green belt, but even we are surprised at the scale of objections.

“Over 1100 residents have taken time to lodge their objections on the Shropshire Council Planning Portal, which clearly shows the level of deep feeling in the community that the location, and scale of this speculative proposal, is just not right.

“This is genuine lived-in knowledge that the village’s roads, infrastructure and amenities would simply not cope with this scale of unplanned overdevelopment.”

AVAG, which has been supported throughout by local MP Mark Pritchard, has submitted its own 92-page document and a drone objection video.

The group has also arranged technical reviews by two planning consultants and a lawyer and has submitted a further four professional objection documents – all funded by donations from local residents and businesses.

The campaign received a boost after Albrighton Parish Council unanimously objected to the proposed development in July. All 10 local councillors present voted against the speculative scheme.