Inside friendly Midland village where families split apart when they grow up

Albrighton, in east Shropshire, is a popular village for many reasons but some fear it will be destroyed if plans to build 800 homes go ahead

Nestled just outside the West Midlands conurbation, Albrighton is a charming village known for its 'friendly community, good places to eat and good transport links'. With a population of just under 7,000, it's conveniently located just 2.5 miles from Junction 3 of the M54, boasting its own train station and bus services.

It's also a short distance from the popular RAF Cosford Museum. Land Registry data reveals that this east Shropshire village - situated about eight miles northwest of Wolverhampton - is highly sought after, with house prices having risen by 6.95% in the year to August, from £304,011.90 to £325,126.40.

The village's appeal is further enhanced by a selection of pubs, restaurants and a coffee shop, as well as a quaint village square featuring a clock tower and noticeboard. However, locals have voiced concerns that younger generations are being priced out of the housing market in Albrighton, forcing them to relocate to areas like Telford.

There are also fears that plans to build an additional 800 homes could transform the village into a 'town', thereby eroding its unique character.

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Jan Gold, a 64-year-old parish councillor who has lived in Albrighton since she was eight, shared her views, saying: "I have lived here for over 50 years, I've seen lots of changes. The village is sought-after, it's a growing village. It's a bit of an issue because of all the new houses they want to come and build here. But they're not looking at improving the infrastructure at the same time.",

"We don't want it to get any bigger. It's a village, we want it to stay as it is. Everybody is very friendly and there's a lot of community spirit."

"There's a lot of nice places to eat, it's touristy, people come for the RAF museum, they come here for Shropshire too, they stop here for somewhere to stay. There's a good transport network, we have a train station, quite often I go to Birmingham and Shrewsbury, as long as the trains are on time. Birmingham is only 40 minutes away. The M54 is in close proximity."

She also said: "I brought my family up here. Unfortunately, none of them can afford the houses and they've had to move to Telford."

Jan points out the significant population growth based on census data that shows an increase of 2,000 people in the last decade. On healthcare services, Cllr Gold mentioned difficulties in accessing dental care, noting that getting a dentist appointment has become "very hard" and that her usual NHS practice in Albrighton has switched to private running, remarking, "If you haven't been (for a while), I've found people have said they've been struck off the list."

Residents have voiced their concerns over the future of their village, with one local, 66-year-old Bob Bell, who has lived in the area for 14 years, saying: "We always say we are very lucky with the doctors. If you are absolutely desperate, you can get in to see somebody. I would say it is on the verge of going the other way, though."

As he strolled along the high street towards his favourite pub, Bell expressed his love for the village but strongly opposed the proposed housing developments: "I love it here; it's a nice place. But the proposals for housing across the village are wrong. It will destroy the character of the village. It will become a town."

He further lamented the potential loss of the village's friendly atmosphere, adding: "Once it becomes a town, it won't be that friendly anymore. People don't say hello to each other on the street (in a town), complete strangers. But they do in Albrighton. I used to live in Tettenhall, about seven miles down the road."

Bell also highlighted past issues in nearby areas, stating: "It will spoil the character, building that big extension. They have already done it to Shifnal, destroyed dog walks. If they wouldn't have kicked up a fuss (in Shifnal), they wouldn't have had their new doctor's surgery."

He stressed the importance of infrastructure before any new housing projects begin: "Before they start building houses, they need to check the local infrastructure. It will need power, sewerage, drainage, water, the roads will need doing."

At The Old Bush pub in Albrighton, where a fire roared from a hearth providing a warm welcome, pub manager Jenny Smith spoke of the close-knit community: "I was born and raised here, it's a nice place, it's a nice community, I know everyone. You can't walk through the village without someone waving at you."