Dismay as plans for 1,100 homes and a school are submitted for Telford site

Developer Miller Homes plans to take on the major development at East Priorslee, Telford, off Castle Farm Way, which currently houses a garden centre, play barn and farm shop, all of which will remain as they are as part of the work.

The homes will bring more than 2,500 people to live in Priorslee. Part of the plan is a retirement village, which is capable of having a 60-bed apartment scheme or something similar to enable the potential for independent living while providing services for assisted living.

There will be a centre, which could accommodate a GP surgery, and pharmacy.

But today the plans put forward by Miller Homes were met with very little enthusiasm by people living and working in the area where they would be built.

Many said they understood Telford needed new housing but were concerned by the size of the development.

Miller Homes say about 37 per cent of the site would be retained as public open space and sports pitches.

Kevin Turley, deputy manager of Lakeside Plant Centre on the proposed site, said he was concerned about the size of the development.

He said: "People appreciate the development in terms of a need to get housing and kick-start the economy. But this is not the answer, and not in this volume.

"There is just not the sustainability for this. Doctors' surgeries are at breaking point, schools are at breaking point and the roads are at breaking point. It is a fair old development – it's a bit of a monster."

Councillors on St Georges and Priorslee Parish Council say they are not against the idea of the development, but are cautious of its size. Councillor Terry Richards said: "Obviously housing is necessary.

"The development off Castle Farm Way is necessary, but it does seem to me to be slightly over the top.

"But really there is little we can do about that and it is what it is."

As this application is only at an outline stage, Miller Homes is not anticipating being able to being work on the site until 2016 at the earliest, with completion taking as long as another 10 years.

The plans form part of Telford and Wrekin Council's Shaping Places scheme, which will see 8,000 homes built across the district.

The application will go before Telford & Wrekin Council planning committee at a future date.