LANDOWNERS have continued their objections to housing plans in Whittington fearing the creation of a ‘ransom strip’.

Shingler Homes has submitted a revised masterplan to build the first phase of a new housing estate on land behind the village primary school after concerns were raised.

But the Diocese of Lichfield and the Tilley Trust, which are applicants and landowners for phases two and three of the development, have voiced concerns that they would have to pay for access via the strip.

Helen Howie, of planning agents Berrys, said it would create the equivalent of a “Berlin Wall” between the sites.

She continued: “The revised plans make no substantive change in relation to the key point of contention, namely that the landowners of the Shingler Homes development will retain a ‘ransom strip’ between their development and the phases two and three of the allocated site.

“The masterplan document refers on page three to the Stokes v Cambridge case, which established an expectation by many landowners of payment of around a third the value of a development site in exchange for allowing access over their land.”

Ms Howie also said the revised plan does not include a school drop-off collection facility, open space, or pedestrian accessibility to the phase two and three land.

And she stressed Shropshire Council must consider the impact the decision on the Shingler Homes application would have on the current outline application for 52 homes.

She added: “The council can cut through the impasse by imposing a planning condition requiring provision of an adoptable road access to the adjoining phases two and three that has no ransom payable at any future date.

“Without this, not only is there no guarantee of delivery of the community facilities on phases two and three and delivery of the planned housing, but there will also be no pedestrian linkages to the rest of the village, making the proposed development unacceptable on design grounds.”

A decision from Shropshire Council had been expected by the start of August.