A VICTORIAN-ERA historic building will be demolished to make way for town-houses, shops and flats, after councillors granted planning permission.

The committee voted unanimously to allow a terrace of four three-storey homes and a block of two shops, each with two apartments above them, on land currently occupied by 5 Mill Street, Whitchurch.

In a report before the 10-member panel, Shropshire Council planning officer Tim Rogers wrote that the existing two-storey red-brick house “is of some distinction and does make a positive contribution to the character of the area”.

But surveys revealed that settlement had damaged the building.

Cheswardine councillor Rob Gittins said: “I can’t see any reports here relating to historical status. Are any of the buildings listed?”

Senior planner Mark Perry said the current buildings on the site were not listed, but were in the Whitchurch conservation area.

Mr Rogers’s report also states the house dates back to at least 1901 as it is shown on historic maps of the area.

Mr Perry also confirmed that, as a condition of planning permission, an archaeological survey would be carried out at the site.

Whitchurch Town Council objected to the plans, claiming the new homes plan would be “overdevelopment” of the site.

Councillor Peggy Mullock, who represents Whitchurch North, pointed out that no-one from the Town Council was available to speak to the meeting due to a prior engagement, “but they would like their comments to be taken into consideration”.

The planning department received seven objections from members of the public, covering issues inlcuding noise nuisance from the building work, insufficient parking, and the view that new housing is unnecessary.

Planning officers pointed out that the frontage of the new shops would be built in line with the existing ones on the street, and Oswestry West councillor Vince Hunt said: “I think it enhances the street scene somewhat. It certainly doesn’t detract from it.

“And it’s nice to see one-bedroom units, because we’re short of those in Shropshire.”

The 10-member North Shropshire planning committee voted unanimously to grant planning permission.