Council set to back Wellington homes fight

Gladman Developments wants to put up 330 homes on land north of Haygate Road in Wellington, known to locals as Haygate Fields.

The developer has lodged an appeal with the national Planning Inspectorate because it claims the local authority has taken too long to make a decision.

Outline planning permission was initially granted by Telford & Wrekin.

But planning chiefs ordered it to be looked at again when it was proved that Telford already had enough housing supply either already built or in the pipeline for the next five years.

Developers submitted the appeal before the matter could be discussed at local level, and a public inquiry will take place in February next year.

But a meeting next week is set to hear that council officers would have done an about-turn and recommended refusal had it come to the table to be dealt with for a second time.

This is a clear signal the authority plans to take on the developer and will delight hundreds of people who signed petitions to try to stop the development going ahead.

A report set to go before Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee says: "Had the council been in a position to determine this application then members would have recommended that outline planning permission be refused."

"Telford & Wrekin Council can now confidently demonstrate that it has an adequate five-year housing land supply.

"The site is located outside of the built-up area of Telford and therefore falls within open countryside.

"It is contrary to the requirements of the existing local development plan in terms of the location of residential development.

"It is considered that the proposal would have an adverse impact upon a nearby heritage asset in the form of the Grade II listed Orleton Hall Park and Garden, which is of significant value."

The report said views towards the park would be "significantly and unacceptably affected".

Diane Treherne, of the Save Haygate Fields group, said the group was planning a big turnout for the meeting on Wednesday to make it clear how residents felt.

She said: "We are a residents group and we have been lobbying councillors and this week.

"A flyer has been delivered in the local area making people aware of when the meeting will be. "We are sure there will be a good turn out as many people feel strongly that we should not lose another green field."

The meeting will take place at Telford's Whitehouse Hotel in Watling Street, Wellington, from 6pm.

Members of the public are welcome to attend.