Call for changes to Telford care flats proposal

Councillors at Telford & Wrekin's planning committee raised a list of concerns over the design of a development on land between Arleston Lane and Dawley Road in Arleston.

The proposal also features 95 new homes, a restaurant, cafe, salon and a meeting room.

The committee voted to defer a decision on the plans to allow officers to work with the applicant to improve the design.

It comes despite warnings from officers that they may face an action for non-determination.

Plans for the development have already been given outline permission, and members of the committee were set to rule on the layout of the site.

But members at the meeting said they were concerned that there was not enough parking for staff working at the number of new facilities, that the design of the extra care facility would struggle to attract potential operators and that it would dominate the landscape of Arleston.

Addressing the members, ward member for the area, Councillor Angela McClements called for members to defer the plans in order for them to be looked at again, with the potential to work with developers to make the design of the site more suitable.

She also called for the extra care building to be set down into the earth so it would not impact on the "unique character" of Arleston, which has a number of listed buildings.

Agent for the applicant, Mark Stych, said a number of changes had already been made to the design, including reducing the number of homes from 103 to 95.

He added that almost 50 per cent of the green field site was being kept as open space.

Councillor Nigel Dugmore said: "In the report it says the extra care apartments are below the Housing Learning and Improvement Guidelines.

"Why is a new extra care facility being proposed below the guidelines agreed."

Councillor Dugmore raised concerns that being below guidelines would mean that the facility would struggle to attract any potential operators as it would not "meet their needs."

He also raised concerns that only six staff spaces were provided, despite the facility being set to employ 30 people, along with those workers from the new shop, salon, cafe and restaurant.

He also called for attenuation ponds on the site to be fenced off.

Mr Dugmore added: "I don't think these plans are ready for us to make a decision on."

Councillor Nicola Lowery said she felt the west side of the site would be "overdeveloped."

Committee members agreed unanimously to defer the plans but were warned by officer David Fletcher said that although it may give officers more time to discuss the plans with the applicant, the developer may also have grounds to appeal for lack of determination by the committee.