Former councillor frustrated with town “being swamped” with extra houses

Former Councillor Concerned Over Housing Expansion in Ellesmere

Rob McBride, a former town councillor, expresses frustration that Ellesmere is "being swamped" with new housing developments. He is "absolutely fed up" after hearing about new plans submitted for additional homes in the town.

Background of Previous Housing Proposals

The latest proposal by Shropshire Homes targets land east of Teal Drive, an area where previous applications were denied. Ten years ago, Shropshire Council rejected a plan by David Wilson Homes (Mercia) for 68 houses.

The Northern Planning Committee said the proposal would cause “unacceptable harm” to the open countryside, outweighing any benefits of increasing housing supply.

The refusal was later appealed but dismissed by an inspectorate.

Current Development Plans and Justification

At an Ellesmere Town Council meeting on November 3, Andrew Rogers, senior land manager at Shropshire Homes, explained the new site under consideration is smaller, measuring 4.5 acres.

“The reason we believe the application is appropriate now is due to the update in housing numbers and planning policy that came into force almost 12 months ago,” said Mr. Rogers.

He also noted a significant increase in housing targets for Shropshire, with the latest figure reaching 2,025 dwellings per year.

Mr. Rogers added that the Shropshire Local Plan was withdrawn earlier this year after inspectors from central government reviewed it.

Summary

Despite community concerns and past refusals, rising housing targets and updated policies are driving new development proposals in Ellesmere.

Rob McBride is “absolutely fed up” with the extra housing in the town.

Author’s summary: Community resistance persists as housing demands and policy shifts prompt renewed development proposals in Ellesmere, highlighting tensions between growth and preservation.

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