Plans for 100 houses on the outskirts of a north Shropshire town look set to be approved after being thrown out last year.

Shropshire Council’s northern planning committee will meet next week to decide an application by Metacre Ltd to develop a site off Lowe Hill Road in Wem, and officers say it should be approved.

A previous application for the site was refused last year on the grounds of “significant visual and biodiversity harm” – but planners say they are now satisfied that the developer has addressed these issues.

The majority of the land is allocated for 100 houses in the council’s current development plan, but Metacre says a gas pipe and existing trees make parts of the site “unsuitable for built development”. It is therefore proposing to encompass more land to the west to ensure 100 homes can be delivered.

Ten of the properties will be ‘affordable homes’, while the proposals also include public open space and a site for community use.

Wem Town Council and 20 members of the public have objected to the plans, citing the fact that part of the site is outside the town’s development boundary, and concerns over flooding, ecology, traffic impact on the town’s roads.

Safety fears have also been voiced over the proposed access, between the junction with Pyms Road and the entrance to Thomas Adams School.

But the report says there were no objections from consultees including the council’s highways, ecology, and drainage teams.

The report concludes: “It is considered that the proposal is finely balanced, as development on site will… have an adverse impact on the surrounding landscape.

“However it is considered this impact can be mitigated with additional landscaping, and it is also acknowledged the majority of the application site is allocated for residential development in accordance with the local plan.

“The housing site itself does have a significant constraint in that a service pipe crosses it and therefore a restraint to development over its land and buffer area.

“With this in mind, as well as the landscape and visual impact, it is considered that development on site will require significant landscaping and will need to be at the lower end of density patterns and will need open space provision on site.

“The previous application subsequently refused on site, presently subject to an appeal, was refused mainly owing to biodiversity issues, however it is considered that the ecological issues have been satisfactorily addressed as part of the current application under consideration.

“It is noted there are significant concerns to the application on highway and transportation matters from both members of the public and Wem Town Council, however with appropriate conditions attached to any approval notice issued, it is considered this matter is addressed satisfactorily.

“With a condition attached to any approval notice issued, in order to ensure a sustainable means of surface and foul water drainage, it is considered detail included in the applicants flood risk assessment and supporting information in support of the application on drainage issues is acceptable.”

The planning committee meets next Tuesday, September 28, at Shirehall.

If outline permission is granted, details like the layout of the development, landscaping and design of the houses will be subject to a further application.