AMAZEMENT has been expressed at a planning approval to build houses in the Ludlow conservation area.

But the puzzlement is not because of where the houses are planned to be built but because the developer says that it does not want to build.

In the application for the houses the developer states: “The intention of the application is to secure a consent for a further three years to facilitate on-going negotiations with the council to secure an alternative scheme for this sensitive site.”

This has astonished Andy Boddington, the Shropshire councillor for Ludlow North.

“In all my years of observing planning systems, I have never seen a planning authority approve a planning development that the developer states that it does not wish to be built,” said Andy Boddington.

He is also concerned about an application to build two houses near Castle Grange.

“These plans, like the Linney House application, have been controversial from the outset,” he added.

They are for two rather grand houses on the grass field at the bottom of the Linney before it turns towards St Leonard’s.

A previous application met with criticism from the Ludlow Conservation Advisory Committee that said: “A significant feature of the conservation area in this location is the open view across the flood plain to passers-by (in vehicles and on foot) going west along Linney in this location. This is a view to be valued and retained and it will be spoiled completely by the development.”

Andy Boddington says that the new application is significantly different but he says that more information is needed and believes that a deadline of Sunday, June 18 set by Shropshire Council is premature.