Realising planning potential and sale of site for 10 dwellings at Higher Heath in Whitchurch, Shropshire.
Seizing on an opportunity that presented itself in 2013, Peter Richards & Co. assisted a client who owned a large garden on the edge of Higher Heath Village to seek planning consent.
Whilst the site wasn’t included in the settlement boundary of the site, due to Shropshire Council’s Local Plan not having enough residential land identified, there was an opportunity to seek planning permission for this site due to its strong sustainability factors.
After successfully obtaining outline planning, Peter Richards & Co. were able to assist the vendors in obtaining reserved matters consent for 10 dwellings before the planning permission expired.
Having marketed the property various different developers expressed an interest. However, for various reasons they had not followed through with their interest.
Subsequently, a suitable developer was identified, who took a very professional approach in acquiring the property, taking on board the designs put together by Peter Richards & Co. and are now marketing the site.
It is important that a suitable developer was found that would work constructively and respectfully with the vendor as they were going to continue to live on site.
Due to the complexity of the planning system and subsequently getting land developed, it can often take a long time. However, the continuity that we were able to afford to the vendor has proved beneficial and assured a successful outcome.
Peter Richards & Co. have been successful in helping a large number of individuals achieve their dream of building a home they can afford in the countryside.
Shropshire Council have got an innovative Local Housing Need Policy which allows people who are considered to have a local housing need apply for a modest dwelling on the edge, or within, a recognised rural settlement.
While this policy has been in place for over 10 years, it has seen a significant number of applications successfully handled through Shropshire Council.
As this policy has become more popular, the interpretation of a suitable site has become more strictly interpreted. A recent case we handled in Abbey Green in Whixall took careful management in order to successfully obtain planning consent.
With the Planning Team suggesting they wouldn’t support the location as it wasn’t within and didn’t respect the spatial patter of the recognised settlement, but with strong Parish Council and Local Councillor support, we were persistent in pursuit of planning consent.
Ultimately requiring 3 planning submissions, the application was heard by the Development Control Committee in December 2020 and was determined positively against the Officer’s recommendation to refuse.
Peter Richards & Co. worked hard to win local political support and also looked to address all technical issues with the Council. The development of this property will see an affordable dwelling remain in perpetuity in rural Whixall and benefit the applicant and then subsequently will be available for future members of the community who find themselves in housing need.
Peter Richards Property Consulting 