16/04228/OUT — Shrewsbury Town Council

Address	Proposal	Shrewsbury Town Council Decision
Former Copthorne Barracks Copthorne Road Shrewsbury Shropshire SY3 8LZ	Outline application for residential development for up to 174 dwellings, 45 retirement living units, and the conversion of the Armoury (the ‘Keep’) for residential apartments, along with the establishment of 4 public open space areas, including the re-establishment of the former Parade Ground, including access (all matters reserved)	Objection
Application Date:

Application Notes:
The Town Council accepts that the former barracks is ripe for development but objects to the outline plans for the following reasons. * Members are of the view that this site should have a mixed use rather than residential so as to provide a more sustainable community on site; * Members are deeply saddened that this plan relies on the fact that all existing buildings are raised to the ground. Whilst none of these buildings are listed they are none-the-less iconic and add greatly to the historic context of the site; a context that the applicant should want to preserve and enhance rather than totally obliterate. These buildings include the Officers Mess, Old Administration Block and two accommodation wings to the front of the site. * Members see the only saving grace to this application is the retention of The Keep. * Members are of the view that the provision of open space on the site is exceptionally poor and provide very little amenity value for prospective residents; * Members see the “re-establishment of the former parade ground” as a very poor attempt to mitigate against the feeling of loss of many people who found the barracks their home at some point of their military life. * Members deeply regret the loss of the football and cricket pitch in an area which already lacks local quality recreational and amenity space. Many locally involved in sport have memories of playing on these facilities. A rationale of these pitches not being in public use is no justification for their complete removal and should these not be retained a commuted sum over and above any CIL contribution should be made to providing like facilities elsewhere within the town. * Given the number of dwellings on-site members are of the view that play provision should be accommodated on site and at worst a LEAP of 400 sq metres should be provided. Members are of the view that it is uneasonable of the applicant to expect residents of infants to have to seek play provision off-site. * Members have general concerns for the impact this development will have on an already busy Copthorne Road and the likely delays accessing and egressin the site. * Members are firmly of the view that the use of Barracks Lane to serve the retirement living units is wholly inadequate and that should this facility have regular flow of traffic movements and potentially ones from vehicles larger than a domestic car, this should be catered for via the main Copthorne Road entrance * Members respectfully asked that any affordable housing provision be allocated to SSAFA to support past military personel.