Developers wait for decision on Newport homes scheme
Controversial plans for hundreds of homes on green fields inNewport were today in limbo as the Government decides whether or not to call them in for inspection.
Plans by Davidsons Developments and St Modwen Developments for a huge housing estate of 350 homes on land either side of Station Road in Newport have been backed by Telford & Wrekin Council.
But the local authority has been told not to approve the application until Secretary of State Eric Pickles has decided whether or not he needs to take a first-hand look at the scheme.
Should he decide to call in the application, it would go before a planning inquiry – costing Telford & Wrekin Council and the taxpayer thousands of pounds in legal fees.
The council has already spent more than £1.5 million in dealing with contentious planning applications in the town.
The Save Newport Campaign Group, which is fighting the plans, remains optimistic that the Government will block the scheme.
Spokesman Councillor Adrian Meredith said: "There have been one or two incidents across the country recently where he has called in applications and he's stopped them. I think Eric Pickles is seriously thinking about this one."
In a letter to Telford & Wrekin Council's planning department, Ray Colbourne, on behalf of Mr Pickles, said: "The Secretary of State hereby directs your council not to grant permission on the application without specific authorisation."
Telford & Wrekin Council said the move was not unusual and part of the normal planning process.
The 350-house scheme, which is mostly on greenfield land, has attracted hundreds of objections from residents.
