Villagers protest over 800 green belt homes plan

Shropshire villagers have staged a protest walk in their battle against a plan to build 800 homes on "vital" green belt land.

Proposals for construction, off Patshull Road in Albrighton, were refused by Shropshire Council, but will now be subject to a planning inquiry next week after developer Boningale Developments appealed against the decision.

Residents have said the homes would be an overdevelopment, removing the only green space in the area for people to enjoy "recreation" and a "bit of therapy".

Parish council chair Adrian Robinson agreed the village does not have the infrastructure to cope with a development of that size. Boningale Homes said it did not currently want to comment.

The protest walk across the fields subject to the planning application, was attended by dozens of residents and organised by the Albrighton Development Action Group.

Dipika Price, from the group, said: "This is the only green space that we can just wander off for a bit of recreation, a bit of therapy and this is something that we really wouldn't want to lose."

Speaking before the protest Robinson, chair of Albrighton and Donington Parish Council, said: "My hopes and the parish council hopes are that the inquiry listen to all the evidence given... and that it is not granted the planning permission for the 800 houses because it is just too big a development to cover for our small village."

The plans were also raised in the House of Commons by The Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard, who said: "My constituents...are not against housing, they just are against housing at the wrong scale in the wrong location."

In response, Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook said the inspector will consider legislation, national planning policy, guidance and the local plans.

In a statement, Shropshire Council said it would "participate fully in the inquiry process and will present evidence supporting the reasons for refusal of the application".

"As the matter is now subject to a live public inquiry, it would not be appropriate for the council to comment further on the merits of the appeal outside that formal process," the authority continued.

"[But] we recognise that residents and community groups have strong views regarding this proposal and their participation in the planning process.

"The public inquiry provides the formal opportunity for all parties to present evidence to the independent planning inspector, who will consider all relevant planning matters before reaching a decision."

The hearing will begin at the Guildhall in Shrewsbury on Tuesday.

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