'It would devastate our village' - Albrighton campaigners fights 'inappropriate' plan for 800 homes

It comes after the authority's local plan process was thrown into chaos last month, when inspectors outlined a series of major concerns with the proposal after the council was found not to have accommodated 1,500 new homes for unmet housing needs in the Black Country.

The local plan is where the council declares it will build future homes and infrastructure. Without an up-to-date local plan developers are more likely to be successful with 'speculative' applications for sites. 

One of the most significant issues is the council has now said it will look for sites for 1,500 new homes, and three hectares of employment land in the east of the county - covering areas such as Shifnal, Albrighton and Tong.

The Albrighton Village Action Group (AVAG) is currently fighting proposals by Boningale Homes to build around 800 homes on the village.

The developer says the proposals will help meet local house-building targets but AVAG point to the overwhelming response from locals against the development, with over 1120 objections lodged and more than 3700 signing a petition against Boningale Homes’ scheme – that’s 80% of the electoral roll. 

The group has reinforced its backing of the original Local Plan and has asked the local authority cabinet to consider making an immediate call for sites, which should give it ample time to identify locations that secure the best possible outcome for Albrighton and the wider county. 

Sharon Barker, Member of AVAG, said: “We understand the need for housing, but the Boningale Homes development is completely inappropriate. It would devastate our village, overwhelm our roads, and destroy productive farmland. It is on the wrong side of Albrighton for the M54 corridor, far from our high street and 1.5 miles away from the railway station, making it car-dependent and unsustainable. 

“There are far more suitable locations within the county and in the Black Country, including brownfield sites and areas closer to existing infrastructure. Shropshire must ensure that it follows the governments’ ‘brownfield first’ policy and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) upholds its commitment to protecting the greenbelt, or we risk losing our countryside forever. 

“It just doesn’t make sense that Shropshire should build on its productive green belt farmland so that the Black Country doesn’t have to regenerate derelict brownfield.

“We are pleased that Shropshire Council have responded with valid concerns and pragmatism to the government’s Planning Inspectors, but we think it should take it a step further and make an immediate call for sites. This will give the planners the best possible chance to identify suitable locations, including some of those earmarked in the stalled Local Plan.”