Public meeting to take place as fight to protect green belt land in Albrighton continues
Residents of Albrighton are being urged to turn out in force again this week to show the scale of opposition against plans for housing on green belt land that threatens to split the community in two.
Albrighton Development Action Group (ADAG) is renewing its fight to stop Boningale Developments’ speculative bid to build 800 homes after the developer submitted an expected appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.
The campaign group and Shropshire Council are united in fighting the plans, with ADAG considering becoming a ‘Rule 6’ party, which means it becomes an extra formal participant in the process and can employ legal and planning experts to cross-examine the developer.
With 3,734 residents signing a petition and over 1100 objections registered against the plans, ADAG is hoping to capture local support when it holds a Public Meeting on Thursday, April 23, at 7 pm at the Red House.
“Albrighton came out in unprecedented and overwhelming opposition when the plans were announced nearly two years ago and we want to evoke this same passion and show Boningale Developments that we will fight them all the way,” explained Claire Lakin, Spokesperson at ADAG.
“The Public Meeting will be the perfect opportunity to explain what the situation is, how the appeal process works and what is involved in being a ‘Rule 6’ party’. Importantly, we will also kickstart a new fundraising bid, with thousands of pounds needed to employ legal and planning experts.”
She continued: “We’ve beaten Boningale Developments once, with Shropshire Council unanimously rejecting its proposals last year. Now is the time for the people of Albrighton to stand on the right side of history and help save 56 hectares of green belt and our way of life.”
Boningale Developments submitted an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate earlier this month, asking for a 20-day public inquiry.
This appeal is not a review - it is a complete re-determination of the already rejected application, with an independent government Planning Inspector set to reconsider the entire proposal from scratch. In essence, they will weigh housing need and supply against harm to the green belt and Albrighton.
There is just four weeks left for residents, who previously objected, to make comments as interested parties via the planning inspectorate portal by May 18.
The public meeting will also see a decision made on whether the group becomes a ‘Rule 6’ party, which means it would sit with Shropshire Council in front of the Planning Inspectorate. This is a huge undertaking and takes time, hard work and a lot of money.
Claire continued: “This is the biggest battle that there has ever been in Albrighton to fight against the permanent loss of green belt land. The proposed development could split Albrighton in two and put unsustainable pressure on the community, roads, schools, healthcare and infrastructure.
“Once this land is gone - it is gone forever. And if this appeal succeeds, it could set a precedent for further large-scale speculative development across the area.”
She concluded: “We are holding the public meeting to update residents and raise funds to deploy a Barrister to present the strongest possible case on behalf of the overwhelming majority of Albrighton residents.
“ADAG has and continues to support controlled and well-planned development, but this proposal is in the wrong place. It is far too big and will engulf Albrighton, our amenities and our infrastructure.”
If you would like to attend the Public Meeting, doors will open at 6.30pm.
