Town centre homes plan to be decided by council
Eighty-eight new houses could be built on land near a town centre, if plans are approved.
The Wrekin Housing Group (WHG) has planned to build the two, three, and four-bedroom homes on just over 15 acres between Colliers Way and Park Lane, Old Park, at Telford Town Centre.
Telford and Wrekin Council’s Planning Committee will discuss the bid next week, and local authority officers recommend they vote in favour, pointing out that WHG plans to offer all the homes for affordable rent and will be asked to contribute just under £500,000 towards local schools, transport, parking management and play facilities.
But the parish council and local councillor have both objected, raising concerns about the density of the proposed development.
In a report, planning officers say WHG proposes 28 two-bedroom, 54 three-bedroom and two four-bedroom houses along with four two-bedroom bungalows, with 181 parking spaces between them.
“The application has been submitted as a 100-percent affordable rent scheme,” it adds.
“The site is located on land to the north of Colliers Way, due west of Telford town centre and the Forge Retail Park.
“Colliers Way currently experiences on-street parking during the day and the scheme secures £10,000 towards a traffic management scheme along the section of Colliers Way that fronts the proposed development.”
This scheme, the report says, will aim to “protect areas where parking is inappropriate and look to reduce the speed of vehicles as they travel along that stretch”.
If the plan is approved, the report says, WHG will also be asked to agree to contribute £240,232 to nearby primary schools, £109,540 towards the expansion of Telford Langley School, £74,566 towards the Telford Transport Growth Strategy and £52,800 for existing play facilities within one kilometre.
Objections
Lawley and Overdale Parish Council has objected.
Among its concerns, the report says it expressed “surprise” at the number of houses included.
It said the outline proposal originally included 92 homes, but the planning committee expressed “desire to see a reduction” to bring it closer to “around 66”, the number envisaged in the Telford and Wrekin Local Plan.
Councillor Mark Boylan, who represents Ketley and Overdale, also objected.
His concerns centred on the “volume, layout and property density” and his view that the “consultation format during Covid did have an impact on awareness of residents”, he said.
The officers’ report says: “With regard to the number of units proposed, it is acknowledged this is significantly more than the 70-unit ‘indicative yield’ in the allocation.
“However, members are advised the allocation is an indicative figure and it is for a developer to demonstrate that more units could be satisfactorily accommodated.
“Whilst it is accepted that the indicative layout appears denser in comparison to the surrounding area of Old Park, it is unrealistic to expect modern development to replicate such spacing standards.”
The Planning Committee will meet remotely on Wednesday, February 10.
