New homes at Telford site 'much needed', public inquiry is told

Representatives for Telford & Wrekin Council and Gladman Developments are going head to head in front of planning inspector David Wildsmith over an appeal to build 330 homes on land north of Haygate Road in Wellington.

Outline planning permission was initially granted by the council but planning chiefs ordered it to be looked at again claiming Telford already had enough housing either already built or in the pipeline for the next five years.

The developer lodged an appeal with the national Planning Inspectorate, claiming the council had taken too long to make a decision.

Hundreds of people had signed petitions to try to stop the development going ahead at the site, which is near to the town's cricket club and known to locals as Haygate Fields.

Dozens of people turned up to watch the public inquiry get under way at The Whitehouse Hotel in Wellington yesterday.

In his opening submissions, Mr Jonathan Easton, representing the developer, told the public inquiry: "If there is any harm it is certainly not sufficient to outweigh the significant benefits from granting planning permission."

He said it would be a sustainable development which would provide much-needed market housing.

Mr Easton added: "It would bring forward a significant amount of affordable housing. It would deliver a well designed housing scheme."

But Mr Timothy Jones, representing Telford & Wrekin Council, said there was already enough housing supply earmarked for the area and there was no need for a development which could cause "harm".

He said there were other sites more suitable for housing developments, adding: "The proposed development is neither necessary or sustainable."

Miss Nina Pindham, representing the Save Haygate Fields campaign group, said the landscape was cherished by the community and would not be an appropriate site for development in relation to nearby parkland.

Reg Snell, chairman of governors at Short Wood Primary School in Wellington, told the public inquiry that the development would lead to "overcrowding" in local schools and could have a detrimental impact on education. There have also been fears it will create traffic chaos.

The public inquiry is expected to run for six days. A final decision could take up to six weeks.