Homes get go-ahead after cricket ball fears allayed

The new homes would add to a previous development at The Wickets

Dozens of new homes have been approved on the edge of a village, after fears were put to rest that they could be in the flight path of stray cricket balls.

Developers for the scheme in Bomere Heath, Shropshire, commissioned an assessment to determine the risk of deliveries being swatted out of the nearby cricket ground.

A proposed 15m (50ft) fence was deemed unnecessary after the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed that the field, leased by Bomere Heath Cricket Club as a second pitch, was only large enough for junior cricket.

The club's main crease is further away, about 200m (220yds) from the edge of the development on Shrewsbury Road.

The scheme put forward by applicants Cameron Galliers Homes Ltd would add 62 homes to the existing Wickets development, immediately north of the site.

The proportion of affordable homes has been doubled from 10% to 20% following responses received during a consultation on the application.

Traffic calming

The proposal also included a £50,000 contribution from the developer for a new play park facility, as well as additional traffic measures for Shrewsbury Road.

The scheme attracted 19 objections from members of the public, who expressed concern about the scale of the development and the access arrangements for the site, using the same mini roundabout created for the original Wickets development.

However, Shropshire Council’s highways department said traffic calming measures proposed by the developer, including road markings and a speed-activated warning sign, would be sufficient to manage the increased traffic.

As a condition of approving the application, traffic calming measures must be in place on Shrewsbury Road prior to the first occupation on the site, the planning decision stated.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.