Wrekin Halfway House scheme looks set for approval

Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee voted to defer a decision on Sean Saward's application in February.

But a new report which will be put before councillors next week has recommended that the committee give their backing to the proposals.

It said that, since the deferral, the planning authority had been working with Mr Saward to revise parts of his application, which was submitted after he learned he had fallen foul of planning rules. He funded work on Halfway House unaware he needed planning permission, replacing brickwork with timber cladding, putting in new dormer windows and putting up an outbuilding for a vending machine.

During the meeting in February, councillors raised concerns about the stability of part of the site, and there were worries about the amount of cladding and size of the windows. The report to the committee said revised plans indicated there would only be a small amount of cladding, which was deemed acceptable by officers.

It said: "Given that the majority of the proposed cladding has now been removed from this application, officers are satisfied that the proposed white rendering and repainting of the property is in keeping with the built and natural environment and would not result in an out of place and detrimental addition to the property.

"A small amount of cladding will be retained to the rear of the property and to the existing shop area, however; officers are satisfied that this is acceptable, given the small amount proposed."

There have also been amendments in the plans for the higher-level dormer extensions.

Information on the stability of the site has also been provided.

Planning officer Martha Fletcher said: "The ground conditions are expected to be stable before and after the modifications to the ground profile for the location of the garage."

Mr Saward, who took over the property about two years ago, said he had already spent more than £100,000 on renovations.

The council's planning committee will meet at Telford's Whitehouse Hotel on Wednesday at 6pm.