Pollution fears over 152 home plan on former Telford factory site
Controversial plans to build more than 150 homes on the site of a former factory will go before planners this week.
Residents have been up in arms over the plans for the former Ever Ready factory on Hinkshay Road in Dawley. But they have been recommended for approval by officers.
People living near the site say they are concerned about the release of potentially hazardous materials from the former battery factory when work begins.
The 10-acre site on the edge of Telford Town Park has been empty since the Ever Ready factory was demolished in June 1995.
The electrical firm set up its factory in Hinkshay Road in August 1956 and in its boom years more than 1,000 people – mainly women – worked there.
After the factory was demolished in 1995, the site was partially cleared but the floor slab to the factory and tarmac circulation areas are still in place.
The development would be made up of 74 homes for the open market and 78 for private rental, with a mix of two, three and four bedroom homes. Each home would have off-street parking.
The application is for reserve matters, outlining the design and scale of the development and follows permission being granted in October 2014 for 165 homes on the site, with the new application brining that number down to 152 homes.
The land was bought by private rented sector specialist Sigma Capital Group earlier this year as part of a £27 million deal for three sites across the West Midlands and North West.
A meeting was held back in May, organised by Councillor Steve Barnes and attended by residents and representatives of the project, to discuss some of the concerns by neighbours.
He said that a lot of fears had been put to rest following the meeting, which was attended by almost 40 people.
Objections have been received to the plans, with 11 letters of concern submitted by residents. There is also objection from the coal authority, which says further information is needed about the location of mine shafts on the site.
Officers have recommended Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee grant approval for the development when it meets on Wednesday at Meeting Point House.
A report to the committee says: "The appearance, landscaping, layout and scale of the residential scheme do not have an adverse impact upon the character and appearance of the area and no harm will arise upon the residential amenities of the adjacent neighbours, drainage, ecology,land contamination or highway safety."
