Shropshire Lidl, 40 homes set for thumbs up

Councillors will meet next week to give a final verdict on the two applications, which focus on five acres of greenfield land in Bicton Heath and four acres in Ellesmere.

Council planning officers have recommended both applications for approval.

Land north of Welshpool Road in Bicton Heath

Developer: Lidl

Architect: Whittam Cox Architects

Planner: Rapleys

The hybrid application from discount grocer Lidl seeks approval for a 23,500 sq ft store and outline permission for a mini-neighbourhood and a care home.

The 4.9-acre site sits in Bicton Heath and is divided into three plots: two acres for a Lidl, 1.5 acres for a care home, and 1.4 acres for housing.

Lidl has already engaged the council around the application, making changes to include a care home, nixing an initial plan for a drive-through and second retail unit in the process.

The Lidl would boast 101 parking bays, including six for those who are disabled, two with electric vehicle capability, and nine parent-and-child spaces.

While details are scarce on how many homes will be built or how large the care home would be – both will be the subject of a reserved matters application – an old illustrative layout document shows how the site could accommodate 20 homes and a 12,000 sq ft care home.

The scheme may have earned the endorsement of council planning officers, however it faces opposition from Shrewsbury Town Council, who objected to the scheme, declaring that it represented over development.

In addition to Rapleys and Whittam Cox Architects, the project team includes Royal Pilgrim, Enzygo, SCP, Signify, Acoustic Consultants, Border Archaeology, DDA, and FDA Landscape.

To learn more about the project search 25/02916/FUL on Shropshire Council’s planning portal.

White Ridge is the architecture firm assisting Shropshire Homes on the plans for a housing estate in Ellesmere. Credit: via planning documents

Land east of Teal Drive in Ellesmere

Developer: Shropshire Homes

Architect: White Ridge

Planner: Harris Lamb Property Consultancy

Shropshire Homes’ bid to build 40 homes on a historically complicated planning site looks set for a green light.

The scheme looks at 4.6 acres of agricultural land east of Teal Drive and next to a 50-home housing estate.

The site was the subject of two failed planning applications, both refused by the impact the development would have on the open countryside. Both times, however, the council had a five-year housing land supply.

Today, Shropshire Council only has a 4.6 year supply.

Shropshire Homes’ plans consist of a mix of semi-detached and detached houses. Of the 40 proposed, one would have only one bedroom, 10 would have two, 17 would have three, and 12 would have four. That housing mix includes four affordable homes.

Approximately an acre of open space is provided as part of the proposals.

In addition to White Ridge and Harris Lamb, the project team includes Tetra Tech and RACE.

Learn more about the project by searching reference 25/03560/FUL on Shropshire Council’s planning portal.