Local plan failure tilts the balance on housing scheme
A twice-refused scheme to build 100 houses in north Shropshire is back for a third time – and now looks set for approval due to Shropshire Council’s ongoing local plan woes.
Applicant Gladman Developments is hoping to strike it third-time lucky on its controversial outline proposals for the development in Market Drayton, after virtually identical schemes were thrown out in 2021 and 2022 in the face of vociferous opposition from local residents.
On both occasions planning officers said the site’s location near Longford Turning, outside Market Drayton’s development boundary, made it unsuitable for residential development – despite its later inclusion in the county’s emerging local plan as a potential plot for 120 new homes.
However – in what may represent a cautionary tale for other local authorities – the scales for the development may now have been tipped in favour of the scheme going ahead, due to the withdrawal of Shropshire’s draft local plan earlier this year.
The authority said it would start from scratch on a new local plan in 2026, after its emerging strategy was thrown into chaos by government inspectors who declared it “potentially unsound” in February.
Now, new plans put forward by the developer in June have been recommended for approval by council planning officers, who say the lack of an emerging local plan for the area, coupled with Shropshire’s lack of a five-year land supply, has now tilted the balance in favour of the development going ahead.
The authority currently has a shortfall of around 567 homes.
“Market Drayton is a sustainable town and provides a wide range of local facilities and services for its residents,” said a report from council planning officers, set to go before Shropshire Council’s northern planning committee next week.
“The proposed site is enclosed and will provide a safe pedestrian and cycle link into the town with several essential services within 500 metres distance away. The proposed site was a proposed allocated site under the draft local plan which considered the site sustainable and suitable for future residential development.
“It is considered that the harm arising from the proposed development is not significant and the tilted balance in favour of sustainable development is engaged and an application for residential development on this site would be supported by officers.”
The scheme will be decided by councillors in Shrewsbury on Tuesday, 18 November.
Plans and documents relating to the application can be viewed on Shropshire Council’s planning portal using reference: 25/01926/OUT
