A hearing to determine the future of a small housing development in the picturesque village of Stiperstones commenced at London’s High Court yesterday.
South Shropshire District Council are challenging a government inspector’s grant of planning permission for the construction of five large houses in the village. The council claim that the inspector was mistaken when he assumed that a regular bus service linking the Stiperstones to Shrewsbury would continue following the development, which will involve the demolition of a garage and coach depot.
In fact, bus operator Minsterley Motors is planning to relocate to the village of Minsterley. The bus service would then terminate at Minsterley without continuing on to Stiperstones.
The council say that the development of four four-bedroom houses and one five-bedroom house in the village is “unsustainable”, and that the inspector’s decision to allow it was “perverse”. They are asking Harrison J to quash the decision.
Stipperstones village, which is comprised of around 30 dwellings, is located in the Shropshire Hills area of outstanding natural beauty.
References: PLS News 20/5/03
