A leading Shropshire social landlord has welcomed news that a crucial development is now clear to go ahead after a dispute over the land that has cost the organisation in excess of £30,000.
Plans for 76 new homes, including sheltered housing, on a site known as Ashbrook Farm, at Church Stretton, have been on hold because of objections from a small group of town residents.
A ‘Village Green’ application from those residents, aimed at keeping the area as communal ground, was due to be heard by an independent barrister in September, but has now been withdrawn.
The news that the development is free to go ahead has been welcomed both by Shropshire Housing Group and those who will benefit from the new homes because their current accommodation does not meet their needs for the future.
But Shropshire Housing Group chief executive, Martin Holland, said the delays had been unnecessarily costly and had caused distress to residents waiting for high quality new housing.
He added: “Interest charges, legal expenses and the inevitable increase in development costs have all contributed to the extra cost, yet the amount of grant received from central government is fixed. Whilst this is a major disappointment, even more worrying is the additional distress and confusion for the elderly residents of Windsor Place who will be moving to the new development.
“Fortunately we are now clear to move forward and the important thing is to pull out all the stops with the building work to provide these new, high quality homes that will be an asset to the community.”
The new properties will be built by South Shropshire Housing Association, part of the Shropshire Housing Group, which has its headquarters in Craven Arms. The group focuses on providing well-built and sustainable homes, many of which are targeted at allowing older people and new families to stay in the communities they are part of, rather than being priced out of the area by the housing market.