Plans for up to 200 new homes in town

The new development would sit next to a large Taylor Wimpey estate on the edge of town

Plans have been put forward for up to 200 new homes in Shifnal.

Land agents Catesby Estates said the development, on the south-eastern edge of the Shropshire town, would meet the area's "future development needs".

It has set out its proposals in consultation documents, ahead of a planning application to Shropshire Council and has asked for feedback before 16 November.

The company said the land was not within the Green Belt and had been identified by the local authority as an area suitable for development. The location has seen hundreds of homes built in the last 10 years, leading some Shifnal residents to raise concerns about the effects on local services.

Some have expressed concern about access to the new site, which sits next to a large Taylor Wimpey development on the A464.

Catesby Estates has promised "significant open space" including children's play areas, saying a small area of woodland will be protected.

It adds that Shropshire Council does not currently have a Local Plan meeting government house-building requirements.

The local authority had proposed building more than 31,000 homes between 2016 and 2038, but a planning inspector said that was not enough.

Earlier this year the authority was given a new target by the government, which would require it to build almost 2,000 homes a year across a five-year period.

The council said the increase was too high and meant it could not identify enough land for development within the time frame.