MP brands Telford council 'concrete addicts'

Mr Pritchard said residents had concerns about the speed and scale of development proposed across the borough.

He was speaking after Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee refused an application by developers White Acre Estates Limited to build homes in the village of Tibberton, near Newport.

The MP said he hoped the decision would set a "planning precedent" and encourage the council to throw out similar applications.

"This applications was for too many homes and in the wrong location," Mr Pritchard said.

"It mirrors so many other applications throughout the borough and the council need to refuse similar applications in other areas.

"The Labour group's leadership need to end their 'addiction to concrete' - and listen to local residents who have very many concerns about the speed and scale of development proposed throughout the borough."

Officers at Telford & Wrekin Council had recommended approval of the scheme.

But dozens of villagers who turned up with placards and demonstrated outside cheered and applauded after the council's planning committee defied the recommendation and rejected the application.

Planning officers warned an appeal could follow at some cost to the authority - but councillors said it was "totally inappropriate" and would be "overkill" for the village.

Committee member Councillor Ian Fletcher said it was "the worst application" he had ever seen.

The 60-house plan was considered after a bid for another 34 houses in the village off Back Lane and Plantation Road was deferred for more information to be gathered.

Councillor Eric Ashcroft, of Tibberton and Cherrington Parish Council, said the village had 201 houses and if the two applications had gone ahead it would have meant an increase in houses of 47 per cent.

The 34-house plan was deferred for more information to be gathered relating to location, impact on the natural environment, provision of school places and drainage.

Michael Barker, Telford & Wrekin Council's head of planning, warned councillors if they turned down the application there would be "a high probability of an appeal and the consequence of that is expense to the council."

But the committee stuck to its guns and votes against the plan, much to the delight of the dozens of residents who had sat through two hours of other applications to hear the fate of the village.