A CONTROVERSIAL scheme to build shops on a Bridgnorth car park has been approved by the secretary of state.

James Brokenshire MP agreed with a planning inspector’s view that Shropshire Council was right to approve plans to build five retail units, plus car parking and landscaping, on Old Smithfield.

The proposal was backed by the unitary authority’s South Planning Committee in March 2017 despite strong objections from campaigners led by the Chamber of Commerce, including a petition signed by almost 7,000 people.

They claimed it would lead to the demise of the High Street and objected to the loss of parking spaces.

But the developers, Ziran Land (Bridgnorth) Limited, said it would stop shoppers going to Telford.

The application was called in by the planning inspectorate in April 2017 and a public inquiry was held in November 2017.

Jean Nowak, on behalf of Mr Brokenshire, said: “The secretary of state agrees with the inspector’s conclusion the trade diversion from Bridgnorth town centre would be around three per cent; but that it would not have a significant adverse impact on the vitality and viability of the town centre.

“He further agrees with the inspector the proposal would act as a logical extension to the town centre and would improve the retail offer, making a modest reduction in the comparison goods expenditure currently leaking out of the district, improving the vitality of the town centre, and reducing travel to other centres.

“The secretary of state agrees with the inspector that, although the proposal would result in a reduction in car parking from current levels and would bring with it an increased demand, the impact would not be significant in retail terms.”