'Disgust' from residents after controversial GKN Sankey factory plan passed with little support from councillors
A decision to grant planning permission for a large industrial development in Telford has been met with dismay – because only two councillors gave it the thumbs up.
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Mercia Real Estate (HPE) Limited will be building the units – some as high as 70 feet – on the site of the former GKN Sankey factory at Hadley Castle Works.
More than 500 objections were lodged, with residents worried about the noise and visual impact the site would have, adding that it “would be an invasion of the green space buffer.”
The decision rested in the hands of Telford & Wrekin Council’s planning committee, who recovened last week after earlier deferring the proposal.
However, seven members abstained, with Councillor Giles Luter and Councillor Stephen Reynolds voting in favour, and Councillor Nigel Dugmore against, respectively.
"I just think, if you're elected to be a councillor, you have to stand up and vote - not run away," said Councillor Phil Millward, of Hadley & Leegomery Parish Council.
"I'm very disappointed with their actions - you either vote for against it. If everyone voted yes and approved it, then we move on. But it came down to three councillors. There was a lot of disgust from residents."
Fellow councillor, Eileen Callear, added: "I am very disappointed that the development was approved with by just two votes.
"Obviously, the majority of the committee were not satisfied that the development was right for this location.
"After months of working with residents on this, and seeing a large amount of evidence from other examples like in Milton Keynes and the traffic implications that I feel are going to impact the area, I stand by what I said at the meeting - that this may prove to be one of the worst decisions in Telford and Wrekin's history."
Councillor Peter Scott was one of those who abstained. He said he did so because he wasn’t ready to pass the proposal when there were still outstanding issues he wanted dealt with.
“We are bound by legal requirements and decisions based only on material planning conditions and not emotion.
"I also knew that a refusal would be detrimental to everyone as we would lose an appeal, have to pay the massive costs, and the development would still go ahead. However, the council would lose control of it, so I abstained.
"I understand the angry reaction of the crowd, but they were in my position and thought about it fairly and logically, they would have done the same."
A Telford & Wrekin Council spokesperson added: “The former GKN Sankey site at Hadley Castle Works was once one of the major employers in the area, so has long been a significant employment and manufacturing location.
"This is recognised in the current Local Plan, which was considered by the planning inspectorate at a public inquiry, as part of the local plan examination process, and adopted by the council in 2018.
“Therefore, planning permission was recommended for approval based on the site’s strategic employment value and following consultation with all relevant bodies around the potential impacts of future use.
"Residents’ concerns around potential noise concerns were addressed as part of the planning conditions applied, with noise assessments required for each unit prior to use followed by ongoing testing once units are occupied.
“Following a vote, permission was granted by majority, so this approval means Hadley Castle Works can continue to be a significant employment site in the borough, creating opportunities for up to 1,800 jobs."
