Wellington Town Council 'inundated' with planning applications
Applications to convert former homes and business premises into small-scale care homes are “inundating” a town, councillors have heard, but proprietors argue there is an “ever-growing need” for the facilities.
Wellington Town Council’s planning committee discussed two change-of-use bids, objecting to one and deferring the other pending more information.
Councillor John Alvey said he had empathy with the adults and young people who needed to use such facilities, and Councillor Lisa Jinks said: “We appear to be inundated with similar applications”.
Members agreed to defer decision on one application, to convert a former electrical wholesaler’s premises on Haygate Road, and objected to another for a property on Mill Lane. Telford & Wrekin Council’s planning department will make the final decision at a later date.
Ankawas Khan has applied for permission to convert the former electrical wholesaler site on Haygate Road into a residential care home.
Councillor Alvey said similar proposals were becoming common. He stressed that he wasn’t against this one, but had concerns about the building’s location near the busy Bridge Road junction.
“I’m very mindful it’s going to mean a lot more traffic in and out on that T-junction,” he said.
Councillor John Latter noted the application documents described the project as a “residential care home”, but didn’t specify whether this was for adults or young people and what needs they were likely to have.
Councillor Alvey agreed it was “very broad”, saying extra details would be useful, and members agreed to defer judgment.
Objection
The other application, submitted by Shepherd Zhou, seeks to change a three-storey house on Mill Lane into a “children’s care home”.
A business statement accompanying the application said the planned “Braeburn House Children’s Home” would provide space for two seven- to 17-year-olds and “cater to the ever-growing need for good-quality, reliable and stimulating residential care”.
Councillor Jinks said: “I am concerned that, as Councillor Alvey has mentioned, we appear to be inundated with similar applications here in Wellington.
“I’m not sure if other parish councils’ planning committees are having the same sort of issues.”
She said concerns about the parking provision were raised during an earlier pre-application consultation and she didn’t think these had been addressed, and Councillor Latter added that it was a small plot down a narrow street that didn’t offer any outdoor space.
Committee chairman Giles Luter said: “I know facilities such as these are important, and we do need them in the town, unfortunately, but I don’t think that is a suitable position for this kind of development.”
Members voted unanimously to object.
