Plans lodged for £30 million housing and care home development in Telford

Redrow Homes has acquired the major scheme to construct 92 houses and a 50-suite extra care facility on land between Arleston Lane and Dawley Road that was given the green light last year.

Councillors pushed for the original proposals to be amended over concerns about the design of the new 18-acre estate on land near Arleston Manor, including the number of parking spaces for staff at the care unit that will be operated by Fair Home Group, and reducing the number of houses from 103 to 92.

A new report to Telford & Wrekin Council show changes made include the creation of a footpath linking nearby residential street Kingsland and the removal of a grass strip behind plots 10 and 14 due to concerns over future maintenance, and the installation of chicanes near the cleaning products factory Serchem Ltd, in Heathersett.

In addition the proposed houses to be built near near existing properties, in Arleston Manor Mews, will have detached garages instead of integral garage space.

Redrow’s technical director Mark Marsh today confirmed that the latest application relates to a previously approved scheme which it has now taken on.

“It’s a great opportunity in an area where Redrow has a reputation for providing quality new homes," he said.

“We’re seeking consent to build 92 of our arts & crafts inspired Heritage Collection homes on land at Arleston Lane. This is a slight reduction from what has previously been approved and would offer a choice of two to four-bedroom homes, with an anticipated finished value of around £30 million.

“The proposed extra care facility, to be developed by a specialist supplier, will include a shop and gym, which home owners and other local residents would be able to use.”

Fair Home Group will run the extra care centre which is being proposed in lieu of affordable homes at the 18-acre development which is situated to the rear of Wrekin Retail Park. The facility will feature 24 one-bedroom flats and 26-two bedroom flats. The communal area will comprise a shop, restaurant, a meeting room, a salon, laundry and scooter charging area.

In April 2016 councillors deferred a decision on the plans to allow case officers to work with the applicants to improve the design. Plans for the development was given outline permission, and members of the committee were expected to approve the layout. But members of the planning committee said they were concerned that there was not enough parking for staff working at the care centre complex, that the design of the extra care facility would struggle to attract potential operators, and that it would dominate the landscape of the Arleston area.

Other Redrow developments in the area include developments in Leegomery, also in Telford, and in Shifnal.