Two action groups – designed to protect Albrighton from overdevelopment – have joined forces, launching a new fundraising plea to combat development plans and to protect the long-term future of the area’s green belt.
Members of AVAG have agreed to merge with the Albrighton Development Action Group to create a stronger resident’s organisation and to take a holistic view on current and future planning proposals.
Going forward, the group will be known as ADAG and will leverage long-standing experience and expertise to strengthen the campaign against the 800-homes proposed on 52-acres of green belt south of Albrighton.
This comes after developer Boningale Homes took action to give notice that they will be lodging an appeal, which the combined action group say they are committed to fighting.
The move is also in response to Shropshire Council beginning to release their new green/grey belt assessments as required by the government’s new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Shropshire Council’s ‘Call for Sites’ coming to an end.
“There have been a lot of changes in planning and there are several developers out there looking to take advantage – not to deliver the type of homes required but to make lots of profit under the guise of meeting government targets,” explained Claire Lakin, spokesperson for ADAG.
“We have two very organised action groups in Albrighton and, having consulted all members, the decision was taken to come together to provide a unified and committed force against overdevelopment in our community.”
She continued: “ADAG now represents even more people, having secured nearly 5000 signatures against developments previously planned here. We want the message to be clear – we are not against housing, as the 771 homes previously planned to be steadily built in Albrighton proves. However, we are against speculative overdevelopment and the erosion of our green belt forever.”
“Boningale Homes recent notification of appeal is seen by many as the developer using ‘strong-arm’ tactics to bypass the local planning application process, to achieve its green belt grab.
“The decision on the planning application had been waiting for the publication of Shropshire Council’s own green belt assessment, which was published on September 16th. As expected, this confirmed the proposed site is green belt and not grey belt as alleged by the developer.
“It’s ironic that the potential Boningale Homes appeal seems to be based on a lack of a decision when the green belt assessment is a requirement of the government’s new National Planning Policy Framework, and the Planning Inspectorate would expect this to be published before the local authority can make a decision” added Claire.
“The people of Albrighton continue to be overwhelmingly against this unsustainable scheme to build 800 homes, which would damage our community, putting extreme pressure on already creaking infrastructure, including drainage, roads and medical services.
“In ADAG’s opinion, the development is clearly the wrong scale, in the wrong location, on the wrong side of Albrighton to access the M54 and is too far from our centre.”
Albrighton Development Action Group is consulting with its planning and legal experts ahead of the Shropshire Council Planning Committee and the upcoming Planning Inspectorate Appeal hearing, which Boningale Homes says it will force.
It is urging residents to continue to dig deep by participating in further fundraising events due to be announced shortly and by donating on Just Giving (https://tinyurl.com/SupportADAG) to support the ongoing fight. The additional funds are required to cover professional fees as the group looks to preserve the area’s green belt.
Claire concluded: “We are at a critical time in Albrighton’s history, not just with this development but for the raft of opportunistic schemes that will no doubt come forward.
“This includes developers like Taylor Wimpey, who are proposing to bring forward, 10 years earlier than originally planned, its 115-strong house development on a parcel of land on Cross Road, Albrighton!”
For further information readers can follow the Albrighton Development Action Group across its social media channels.
—
Our editorial team have approached Boningale Homes for comment and will update the article if we receive their response.