The Northern Planning Committee of Shropshire Council were scheduled to meet on 16 September 2025 to discuss several planning applications, including a large HMO, a care community, and the demolition of a redundant dwelling. The committee was also scheduled to note recent appeal decisions.

Proposed Care Community at Hencote, Cross Hill, Shrewsbury

The committee was scheduled to consider a reserved matters application relating to a proposed care community at Hencote for up to 164 units of extra care and close care accommodation, and a 75-bed nursing home.

Outline planning permission for the care community (use class C2¹) had previously been granted on appeal. This application concerned the appearance, layout, scale and landscaping of the development.

Shrewsbury Town Council objected to the plans, stating that the proposal:

is situated in the rural fringe off the development boundary and as such whilst large in scale needs to harmonise with its rural setting. This is clearly a development which has been designed for the residents to look out from and not the public to look at. The massing of yellow brick and black zinc does not harmonise with its setting and given it's raised position over the urban area will have a significant massing and disrupt the visual amenity that this rural area affords. Concerns were also raised in public comments regarding the design of the buildings, the impact on biodiversity, increased traffic, and the strain on local services. The Shrewsbury Civic Society also objected, saying that the proposal to allow large scale development on the site has denied local people the excellent long-range views towards the town, now only to be enjoyed by residents of the facility .

The planning officer's report noted that the outline planning permission, granted in 2023 following an appeal, established the principle of the development. The report stated that the current proposals were in line with the outline permission, and that the development had been carefully designed to align with the requirements of the outline planning permission and would provide a high quality environment to residents and visitors. The report recommended that reserved matters approval be granted subject to conditions.

The Smithfield Hotel, 1 Salop Road, Oswestry

The committee was scheduled to consider an application for a change of use of the former Smithfield Hotel in Oswestry to create a 22-bedroom house in multiple occupation (HMO).

The application proposed converting the three-storey building, which had been vacant since 2015, into a HMO with single bedrooms, communal kitchens, and a communal lounge. The existing seven off-street parking spaces would be retained.

Oswestry Town Council objected to the application, raising concerns about the scale and density of the HMO, lack of sufficient waste management facilities, inadequate parking, lack of outdoor amenity space, and the suitability of the kitchen provision.

24 representations of objection were received from the public, along with a petition of 724 signatories. Concerns were raised about noise, waste, lack of outdoor space, pressure on local services, limited parking, highway safety, and the impact on the conservation area². Two representations of support were received, commenting that the HMO was a practical re-use of a long-vacant building in a central location. The planning officer's report stated that the principle of the HMO was acceptable and would help to meet the objective of policy CS11 of the Shropshire Core Strategy in seeking to meet the diverse housing needs of Shropshire residents. The report also noted that the building had been vacant for over 10 years, and that a previous planning permission for its conversion into apartments had not been completed. The report recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions, including a parking management strategy and a restriction on the number of occupants.

The Lodge, Shrewsbury Sports Village, Sundorne Road, Shrewsbury

The committee was scheduled to consider an application for prior approval for the demolition of The Lodge, a redundant dwelling at Shrewsbury Sports Village. The applicant was Shropshire Council.

The planning officer's report noted that the lodge was a small two-storey property that had been redundant for many years. The report stated that demolition was seen as the most appropriate solution due to the building containing asbestos, suffering from water damage and rot, being a target for antisocial behaviour, and the availability of funding for demolition.

The report stated that a bat survey had been carried out, which determined the site to be of moderate roosting potential for bats, but no roosting was recorded. The report also stated that a demolition management plan had been provided, and that the Highways Team had raised no objections. The report recommended that prior approval be required and approved, subject to conditions.

1 Oakfield Road, Shrewsbury

The committee was scheduled to consider an application for the erection of a single-storey side extension at 1 Oakfield Road. The applicant, Councillor Brendan Mallon, is a Shropshire Council Councillor.

Shrewsbury Town Council raised no objections to the application.

The planning officer's report stated that the proposed scale, design and appearance of the works would respect the existing character of the dwelling and would not result in any visual impact in the locality. The report also stated that the proposed works would not result in any detrimental impact on neighbouring amenity. The report recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions.

Appeals and Appeal Decisions

The committee was scheduled to note the schedule of appeals as at 16 September 2025. This included appeals against the refusal of planning permission for:

• Two self-build dwellings on land west of Tern Hill Hall, Tern Hill.
• The erection of a detached dwelling, detached garage, associated vehicular access provision and landscaping works at the Site Of Former Shelley Signs Factory, Eaton Upon Tern.
• Foul and surface water drainage provision associated with new-build residential development at the Site Of Former Shelley Signs Factory, Eaton Upon Tern.
• The erection of a detached dwelling with associated vehicular access provision and landscaping works at the Site Of Former Shelley Signs Factory, Eaton Upon Tern.

The committee was also scheduled to note the appeal decisions for:

• The dismissal of an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for the change of use of an agricultural building to a squash court for personal use at Unit 4 The Barns, Woolston.
• The allowance of an appeal against the refusal of prior approval for permitted development for an agricultural storage/shelter building at agricultural land north east of Fitz, Shrewsbury.
• The allowance of an appeal against the refusal of prior approval for the change of use from agricultural to form one residential unit at Little Ropes, Hinstock.