We are delighted to have been integral in helping our clients gain outline planning permission at appeal for a residential development of 150 homes in Shropshire.
The site is undeveloped land between the Meole Brace Retail Park and the Meole Brace Park and Ride on the southern side of Shrewsbury.
We were appointed as highways consultant to advise and support the preparation of the development proposal for up to 150 homes with a new access junction on the A5112 Hereford Road, close to its junction with the A5 and A49.
We produced a Transport Assessment and a Residential Travel Plan which were submitted with the planning application.
We agreed early in the process with Highways England (now National Highways) that the proposed development would not have a severe impact on the Strategic Road Network.
Engaging with Shropshire Council Highways throughout the planning process, we secured agreement that the development would be acceptable on the local road network, due in part to the site’s proximity to the retail park and other local facilities. The site is also adjacent to the Park and Ride site, with which it will share its new access junction.
The development was refused by Shropshire Council, on the basis that the site is not currently allocated for development in the adopted local development plan and that the Council felt there were no overriding benefits of the proposal to justify departing from the adopted plan.
Working with planning consultants Barton Willmore, architects The Harris Partnership, and acoustic consultants Hepworth Acoustics, we supported our client through an appeal against Shropshire Council’s refusal.
We successfully demonstrated to the Planning Inspector that the proposed new access junction would provide a material benefit, in particular to the efficiency and customer experience of the Park and Ride, improving the attractiveness of it as an effective and alternative mode of travel to the town centre.
The Inspector allowed the appeal, finding that there would be significant economic, social and other benefits arising from the development, and that cumulatively, these considerations are sufficient to mean the proposal should be determined otherwise than in accordance with the development plan.
