Changes proposed for Telford & Wrekin’s local plan

A fresh and final consultation will be held on Telford’s emerging local plan, with the document now edging towards adoption.

Three weeks of public hearings took place earlier this year, after Telford & Wrekin Council published its draft local plan document, which included a target of 20,000 homes for the borough up to 2040.

Around 450-acres of land is also earmarked for employment use under the proposals, which were initially launched in October, 2020.

Now, following a review which took place after the public consultation in February and March, the government’s planning inspectors have now highlighted several areas of the local plan that require modification, which are set to be published shortly, along with a fresh consultation.

During February’s exercise, developer Boningale Homes said the plan was “legally non-compliant” due to a lack of provision for neighbouring authorities in the Black Country. Boningale is currently in dispute with neighbouring authority, Shropshire Council, over its decision to refuse plans for 800 homes in Albrighton, which is around six miles from the border with Telford & Wrekin.

Subject to a final decision by inspectors, the Telford and Wrekin local Plan will go before cabinet for approval and then be recommended to full council for formal adoption, after which it will guide where homes, jobs and infrastructure can be built over the next 15 years.

Cllr Carolyn Healy, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods, planning and sustainability, said: “We are grateful to the planning inspectors for their feedback and have taken their recommendations on board. The modifications they have proposed, along with other minor revisions, will now be subject to a further public consultation which will begin soon.

“Once the Inspectors recommend the final modifications and are satisfied that the plan is sound, subject to their inclusion in the final plan, then our intention is for it to be brought to full council by the end of the year for members to consider approval.”