SHROPSHIRE Council has defended its planning sysem protocols after complaints over a new proposed development in Whittington.

Shingler Homes, based in Myddle, has a planning application lodged with the council for 61 homes in the village between Oswestry and Ellesmere with public consultation open until July 13.

However, one resident says the notification period for such a large development, coming at a time when people are preparing for a General Election, has given local people little chance to have their say.

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Elizabeth Jones also criticised what she called a lack of formal notice for the application with ‘just one document on a telegraph pole’ for residents.

However, a spokesman for Shropshire Council said all required action had been taken.

They said: “All planning applications are considered on their merits, taking into account the appropriate local and national planning policies, comments raised as part of the statutory consultation, and other material considerations.

“The consultation for this application began on  June 19, 2024 and will end on July 10, 2024 for the statutory consultees, and on July 13, 2024 for members of the public.

“In accordance with the council’s statutory requirements a site notice has been placed adjacent to the application site.  

“Members of the public can view the application and submit their comments via the council website.

“The council does not consult individual dwellings by letter.”

Shingler Homes’s plans for the 61 dwellings include open spaces and parking areas and would be built across four phases and would be on land east to Donnett Close.

The homes would be made up predominantly two-storey designs, four bungalows and a mix of one, two, three-bedroom homes that are detached, semi-detached and terraced.

Ms Jones also stated the detail in the application is ‘too much’ for this period of consultation.

She said: “The planning application for this development has now been published and the period for formal response ends on July 13.

“People are on holiday, there is a General Election campaign under way.

“There is one notice on a telegraph pole at the roadside. There are 92 documents listed for this application on the Shropshire Council ‘planning portal’.

“I have registered for a planning ‘alert’ which has not yet produced anything. Is this really adequate notice and/ time to respond?

“What is worse is the small print. One of the 92 documents is something called a ‘Pre Application Summary’.

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“It is clear from this that formal discussions have been going on with Shropshire Council planners since summer 2023.

“The documents show that the planners were giving ‘pre application’ guidance to the developers on what would be acceptable when the formal application was eventually submitted.”

For more on the application, search 24/02260/FUL at Shropshire Council’s planning portal.