Telford high street offices and shop set for demolition to make way for apartments

In October, the Wrekin Housing Group applied to demolish its former office in Dawley town centre and build four apartments that would be available for social rent.

The application proposed knocking down the former offices on Dawley High Street and the shop next door, replacing them with a two-storey block of one-bedroom, two-person apartments.

The plans also include the widening of existing vehicle access to the property with on-site parking provision made for one car per apartment.

Submitted by Barnett Ratcliffe Partnership on behalf of the group, the plans claimed the new homes will benefit the local community, and "contribute significantly" to the local economy.

Approving the plans, Telford & Wrekin Council planners ruled that the proposed development would be an "appropriate replacement" for the buildings. 

The decision notice states: "The applicant has advised that the buildings suffers from significant damp and there is evidence of timber infestation and decay. 

"The building has not been in use for several years due to the potential health and safety risk to users and is considered to be beyond economic repair for conversion into suitable alternative use, due to the deterioration of the building structure and fabric.   

"With regards to the ground floor use as residential and the loss of the commercial unit... the existing offices at ground floor have been underutilised for some time, leading to empty commercial units.

"In this instance it is not considered the loss of the commercial unit would have a significant detrimental impact."

The full plans are available to view online on Telford & Wrekin Council's planning portal using reference number: TWC/2024/0723