Albrighton residents start petition to oppose 800 homes plan

Dean Trowbridge, development manager with Bonningdale Homes, said there was a "housing need" in the county, with developers also in talks to provide a new doctor's surgery

Residents in a Shropshire village say they are overwhelmingly against plans for 800 homes on green belt land.

Developer Boningale Homes wants to build an estate on an area between Newhouse Lane, Holyhead Road and Cross Road in Albrighton, near Shifnal.

It said there was a "mixed reaction" at a recent public meeting, but residents said their petition in opposition to plans had more than 1,000 signatures.

One councillor has described the project as a "green belt grab".

The plans, which also included a new secondary school and a 70-bed care home, may lead to an approximate 62% increase in the footprint of the village, campaigners stated.

Pointing to the use of alternative land in the county, residents said Shropshire's Brownfield Land Register included space for more than 3,000 new dwellings, with significant additional brownfield available in the adjacent Black Country.

In a social media post, county councillor Nigel Lumby said he supported residents because none of the proposals from the developer, which he described as a "green belt grab", were in the Local Plan.

Boningale Homes has said the intention is to have more talks with the public to address any concerns before a planning application is submitted.

The council has confirmed the site is not currently subject to a planning application but that it is aware of the proposals.