Go-ahead likely for 289 homes at Telford beauty spot

Proposals to build 289 homes on the site to the north of Haygate Road, Wellington, Telford, were deferred by Telford & Wrekin Council’s planning committee earlier this month over privacy concerns.

Councillors and residents aired concerns about homes earmarked for a plot near existing bungalows along Woodlands Avenue.

Bovis Homes has now amended the proposals and the council’s planning committee is expected to make a decision on Wednesday.

A report to the committee says the developer now intends to build bungalows near Woodlands Avenue rather than two-storey homes.

The report says: “Officers welcome the changes which are considered to be a significant improvement in terms of the relationship with properties along Woodlands Avenue.”

There were also concerns over the siting of a play area.

But the report continues: “This aspect of the proposal has been discussed with the cricket club who continue to raise no objection and officers remain satisfied that the proposal would result in a satisfactorily low risk of cricket balls reaching the play area.

"Officers also recommend that the play areas are not illuminated to avoid potential disturbance to the amenities of nearby residents in the evening.”

An outline application for a housing development has already been granted on appeal but details of the scheme, including the scale and layout, are yet to be signed off.

In April 2016 planning inspector David Wildsmith upheld an appeal by Gladman Developments against the council’s decision to refuse permission.

Outline permission was initially granted but planning chiefs ordered it to be looked at again, claiming Telford already had enough housing either already built or in the pipeline for the next five years.

The developer lodged an appeal with the Government, claiming the council had taken too long to make a decision.

The council embarked on a legal fight to overturn the planning inspector’s decision.

But at a hearing in December 2016, the authority found it had not been successful and building could now go ahead on the land next to Wellington Cricket Club.

Hundreds of people had signed petitions to try to stop the development going ahead at the site, which is near to the town’s cricket club and known to locals as Haygate Fields.