Plans for 500 homes near Telford beauty spot given go ahead

Developers have been granted approval in principle to build on the former Maxell factory site next to Apley Woods.

Residents packed in to last night's meeting of Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee, where members passed the plans on the chairman's casting vote.

A final decision to approve full planning permission could be made behind closed doors by council planning officers in the coming months.

The decision is subject to the Secretary of State confirming that the authority can determine the application and the developers entering into a section 106 agreement.

Developer J-Ross Developments had claimed the future of a proposed new factory development on the site for Elements Europe, which could see up to 120 jobs created in the town, hinged on approval being granted for the homes.

Committee members had previously turned down plans to build 540 homes on the site in June and a scaled-down development of 495 properties came back to the committee yesterday.

More than 50 written objections were made against the plans and a petition with 500 signatures was put forward in opposition from the Friends of Apley Woods.

Opponents had claimed too many homes were proposed, it would result in a loss of green space and it would impact on services at the nearby Princess Royal Hospital.

Councillor Malcolm Smith, who represents Hadley and Leegomery, told members they had ignored the green network plan when developers put "offers of money on the table".

But Councillor Chris Turley, member for The Nedge, said he fully supported the application and could not justify opposing it.

The developers said as well as scaling down the plans they had also moved it further away from the woods to create more of a "green buffer".