Plans for 90 homes to be built on Shropshire-Staffordshire border near M54 submitted

Offoxey Road Limited has submitted an outline planning application for the development on land north of Offoxey Road in Bishops Wood, near Junction 3 of the M54.

The scheme also includes a shop, a school drop off/pick up point and demolition of existing properties to facilitate access.

The site, which is within Green Belt land, is currently occupied by two properties, with the Royal Oak pub nearby.

Documents submitted to Shropshire Council state that a public consultation exercise was carried out at Bishops Wood Village Hall on November 11, 2024.

A total of 39 responses were received, with around a third in support of the development. Some of the residents welcomed the variety of green spaces offered, with almost half in support of the biodiversity net gain targets of over 30%. There was also support to make the land available to St John’s C of E First School, however concerns were raised around drainage, transport and ecological effects.

As part of the masterplan development, vehicular access has been proposed to the east of the site boundary adjoining Ivetsey Bank Road. This, the developer says, will aid in the retaining of the existing hedgerow, whilst also maximising user safety through the visibility splay from the existing junction of Ivetsey Bank Road and Old Coach Road.

Meanwhile, the proposed shop will be next to the pub ‘to create a community use area’. An area is also advised to be reserved for a potential school drop off point to the northern boundary to reduce traffic.

A new pedestrian link can also be created to the south-east of the site, adjoining Ivetsey Bank Road, with an opportunity to connect to the existing public rights of way.

Anyone who wishes to comment on the proposal (planning reference 25/00373/OUT) should do so by February 26.