Council's planning committee sides with local residents to protect green belt in Albrighton

Albrighton Development Action Group (ADAG) has welcomed Shropshire Council’s Southern Planning Committee decision to unanimously refuse planning permission to Boningale Homes’ proposals to build on green belt land in Albrighton.

The campaign group says it is not against house building and it has already backed the 770 houses in the process of being built, which is a suitable plan for the town.

The Council’s refusal vindicates a 22-month campaign against the profit-driven, speculative house building plan that is of the wrong scale, in the wrong location, unsustainable and completely inappropriate.

“Albrighton came out in unprecedented and overwhelming opposition, with 3,734 residents signing a petition and over 1,100 objections registered on the planning portal,” explained a Spokesperson for ADAG.

“We are pleased that Shropshire Council has not been swayed by Boningale Homes’ threats that they will take this to Appeal or the High Court - and the decision clearly demonstrates that this scheme is unsustainable and inappropriate.

“Local people will not be bulldozed by this kind of speculative, profit-led, unsustainable development that will cause irreversible harm for future generations.

“We will continue to fight to protect our green belt, whether it is at Appeal or against other misguided plans that come forward.”

ADAG has already committed to helping develop Albrighton’s next Neighbourhood Plan, in conjunction with the developing Shropshire Local Plan, and we look forward to continuing to represent the best interests of the people of Albrighton.”

A spokesperson for Boningale Developments said: “We are disappointed that the Southern Planning Committee at Shropshire Council has voted against our plans for Albrighton.

"We remain steadfast in our view that this proposal would help Albrighton to continue to be a sustainable and vibrant location to live for generations to come and, as such, will now begin preparing for an appeal.

"Shropshire Council faces a severe housing land supply shortfall and is unable to demonstrate sufficient land to meet its statutory obligation of maintaining a minimum five years’ worth of deliverable housing.

"Our proposals would make a meaningful contribution to addressing the worsening unmet need for new homes in Shropshire in one of its most sustainable locations – the decision by today’s committee members undoubtedly puts pressure on other settlements to accommodate additional housing, with Albrighton, once again, being denied the opportunity to grow sustainably and take its fair share of Shropshires housing requirement. 

"Alongside 800 homes the scheme proposes numerous community benefits and much-needed infrastructure, including a secondary school, care home, local centre and a new GP surgery with pharmacy and minor injuries unit, which will not be delivered without private investment."