Bid to build homes in Wem approved by Shropshire Council

Applicant AFM Farming LLP submitted the outline planning permission to build on land south of Soulton Lane with access and layout included in July 2025.

Last week, the scheme was approved by council planning officers, who said the benefits would outweigh the potential harms.

There had been calls for the proposal to go before the North Planning Committee because of strong objections received, but it was agreed that it would be delegated to officers.

In his report, Richard Denison, case officer, said: "Whilst the site lies outside the defined development boundary and therefore conflicts with adopted spatial strategy, significant weight must be afforded to the need to boost the supply of housing where the council cannot demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, engaging the tilted balance.

"In applying this balance, the proposal would deliver a meaningful contribution to housing delivery, alongside associated economic benefits during construction and an increased local population to support existing services and facilities within Wem.

"The site is located adjacent to the settlement and benefits from close proximity to shops, schools, healthcare and public transport, allowing future residents to meet many day-to-day needs without reliance on private car travel.

"The development would also deliver improvements to active travel infrastructure, including enhanced pedestrian and cycle connectivity, encouraging more sustainable travel choices and integrating the site with the wider settlement."

Details of the design and appearance of the housing estate will be provided at a later date, but it would include a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom dwellings in detached and semi-detached homes.

The 8.2-acre site sits on the eastern edge of Wem, outside the current development boundary.

Help support trusted local news

Sign up for a digital subscription now: www.whitchurchherald.co.uk/subscribe/

As a digital subscriber you will get

• Unlimited access to the Whitchurch Herald website
• Advert-light access
• Reader rewards

Objections were received from Councillor Gary Groves, who is the local ward member and had hoped the scheme would be called in to the committee.

He said this was because "the proposed development is fundamentally unsustainable" and is "more than triple the size of the previously rejected 2016 application".

Wem Town Council also objected over concerns about increased traffic and urged Shropshire Council "to facilitate round-table discussions with all applicants for housing developments east of the town to address shared infrastructure concerns".

And there were 24 public objections received, alongside two in support.