Wem Hanmer Garage building could be replaced by homes

Proposals have been submitted to Shropshire Council for the properties on land at Hanmer Garage in Aston Street, Wem.

Plans include the building of five three-bedroomed homes and a one-bedroom apartment.

Applicant Hanmer Auto Services plans to demolish the existing disused garage and build an ‘improved’ structure, which would form an apartment with under-croft vehicular access for five homes at the rear of the site. The existing garage business would be unaffected by the development.

“The proposed new street frontage would be an improvement on the existing garage and more in keeping with the surrounding dwellings on Aston Street and wider conservation area,” says the applicant in their revised design and access statement.

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“The disused car park and garage building are currently associated with the adjacent business, Hanmer Garage, but are surplus to requirement and no longer serve a commercial purpose.”

A single-bedroomed apartment is planned to front onto Aston Street with undercroft vehicle access leading to the five semi-detached homes.

The applicant says the apartment will have private outdoor space and two parking spaces at the back of the site.

The terraced houses will have dedicated parking and private rear gardens.

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A previous application was refused by Shropshire Council in May who felt that the proposed buildings had an ‘unacceptable scale, height and design’.

The council said that a ‘submitted block plan’ indicating seven properties would result in ‘overdevelopment’ and raised fears about a ‘lack of adequate amenity and open space provision’.

In their refusal planning officers also raised concerns about visibility from the existing access.

The applicant says that following comments made by the council consideration was taken in the resubmitted plans to ‘exceed the minimum overlooking distances and minimise any impact on the adjacent properties on Aston Street’.

“The proposed new Aston Street frontage and rear terraced house types respond to the surrounding urban fabric in their scale and architectural style and are sympathetic to their conservation area locality,” the design and access statement adds.

“The site’s density was explored during the design development and the proposed scheme is in line with that of the surrounding area.

“The proposed development will not impact the commercial activities at the Hanmer Garage and the site density is commensurate with the surrounding area.

“The site is in a sustainable location and the proposal would contribute to the local housing stock of Wem.”

The plan can be viewed on the Shropshire Council planning portal on their website, application number 23/04895/FUL. Comments must be made during the consultation phase which ends on December 14.