Previously, I have reported on the application for 16 dwellings off Holyhead Road and Twyford Lane and set out my objections. That application has now been updated, and a revised submission has been made for 32 dwellings, doubling the original number.
The revised application gives me serious cause for concern. Whilst recognising this is an outline application and detailed designs are reserved matters for a future application, the contents of the application still give me grave cause for concern. The indicative layout of the redesign gives me more concern than the original application. The agent’s covering letter also sets off alarm bells for me. As does the flawed treatment and setting of the listed Cider press. Overall, I am worried about the combined impact of all 3 speculative applications in the village. I will cover those issues below:
The agent’s covering letter highlights the desire for ranch-style fencing, as seen at Ledwith Drive and Ralph’s Drive. Both of those sites mentioned obtained permission the last time the Conservative administration left Shropshire without a five-year land supply. Arguably, that ranch-style fencing is out of keeping with the rest of the village and should be resisted. However, vertical iron railings of a heritage-style fencing do exist at The Maltings and at the Terrace opposite the pub. The far greater concern with the suggestion is the removal of the perimeter sandstone wall. This wall is the boundary wall of the former Dovestan Estate at The Nursery. Where previous development has taken place on the former estate land, it respected the sandstone wall, even when it was moved and/or rebuilt, allowing residents to appreciate where the estate used to be.
The setting and character of the listed Cider Press is still disrespected by degrading its value to turn it into an ancillary building to a residential dwelling. There is no apparent regard to the setting of this building. Operationally, an important feature of the coaching in the character of the village in years gone by. The setting of this listed building is the former orchard, with the two being operationally intrinsically linked. The orchard is long gone, becoming open grassland with permissive paths criss-crossing the site. As such, the setting of the Cider Press is still the grassland around it, up to and including the sandstone wall. The plot of land includes part of the historic parkland associated with The Nursery.
View side-by-side maps and satellite imagery here: https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=17.9&lat=52.82688&lon=-2.97064&layers=257&right=ESRIWorld
The demolition of The Nursery should never have been allowed. This site represents the last remnants of The Nursery and its surrounding parkland, bounded by a sandstone wall. As such, it is an important feature defining the gateway to the village and should be protected accordingly.
I remain opposed to the development of this site; the suggested site layout is worse than the previous version. It does not flow well, disrespecting the existing desire lines across the site.
Overall, I am very concerned about the cumulative impact of unplanned development on the village, which applies to all three speculative sites in the village. But I will post about that separately.
In my opinion it is a huge oversight that this land was not included in the village’s Conservation Area.
