Friends of the Rea Brook Corridor hit out after application for 210 Houses
Friends of the Rea Brook Corridor have hit out following the submission of a planning application for up to 210 houses in the area.
Friends of the Rea Brook Corridor have hit out following the submission of a planning application for up to 210 houses, raising serious concerns about the impact on ecology, public footpaths, community health and the long-term character of the area.
The Friends of The Rea Brook Corridor are asking people to comment urgently on the Planning Application by contacting Shropshire Council by email to planning.northern@shropshire.gov.uk and quoting the reference 25/04875/OUT in their email. The latest consultation date - for people to object is 10th February.
The group says the proposal places unacceptable pressure on this part of the Rea Brook corridor, a valued natural corridor of water, wildlife and public footpaths that supports biodiversity and everyday access to nature for local residents.
This part of the corridor is known to support a wide range of species, including bats, birds and aquatic life, and functions as an important wildlife movement route that relies on continuity, dark skies and good water quality.
Friends of the Rea Brook Corridor also stress that this stretch of the Rea Brook forms a vital green buffer between Bayston Hill and Meole, helping to keep the two settlements distinct and preventing coalescence.
The loss of this part of the corridor would fundamentally alter the character of the area, eroding local identity and permanently changing what are currently two separate communities into a single, sprawling development.
Councillor Teri Trickett, Secretary of Friends of the Rea Brook Corridor, said:
“Friends of the Rea Brook Corridor are deeply concerned about the cumulative impact of this application on this part of the Rea Brook corridor. The Rea Brook here is not just a watercourse, it is a vital natural corridor that supports biodiversity, flood resilience and the health and wellbeing of our community.
"This stretch also plays a crucial role in keeping Bayston Hill and Meole distinct. Once this separation is lost, it cannot be restored. Protecting this part of the Rea Brook must be central to planning decisions.”
Max Whitehead, Planning Director at Bloor Homes Midlands said:
“Our proposal for a high-quality development at Pulley Lane has been landscape-led from the outset, placing a focus on the provision of extensive public open space and biodiversity areas. As a result, more than half of the overall site area is being retained as new landscaped public open space on land that is currently private.
"This includes the creation of Rea Brook Greenway – a new outdoor recreation and biodiversity resource that has the potential to act as an extension of the existing Rea Brook Valley Nature Reserve. This will greatly increase public access to the Rea Brook corridor for the whole community, retaining and enhancing existing public rights of way and the claimed path along the southern bank, in addition to an extensive network of new walking routes.
"We are conscious of the important habitats within the brook corridor. We are keeping all development away from the brook and outside of areas that are known to be subject to flood risk. In addition to protecting the brook, we are also retaining high value habitats such as mature trees and the vast majority of hedgerows across the site. Alongside this, we will be creating new areas of high value habitat through the creation of wildflower areas and widespread planting of new trees. This will increase the biodiversity of the site above existing levels by at least 10%.
"We met with Bayston Hill Parish Council as part of the process of preparing our outline planning application, and we are aware of their wider concerns in relation to maintaining separation between the village and Shrewsbury. Our development site is located immediately adjacent to existing residential development in the Meole Brace area of Shrewsbury. It is bordered to the south by the A5, containing the site from the countryside beyond. Open fields to the south of the dual carriageway will continue to provide a green gap between Bayston Hill and Shrewsbury.”
