Telford local plan ‘sound’ ahead of vote

A development blueprint for Telford that could see 20,000 homes built in the borough before 2041 has been given the thumbs up by planning inspectors.

A report from the Planning Inspectorate which landed at Telford & Wrekin this month said a draft local plan which went out for consultation earlier this year is fundamentally sound, subject to a number of required amendments.

Among the changes are an increase to the planned number of houses, and a reduced emphasis on affordable housing in Telford town.

If the borough’s updated local plan is adopted as expected, it will build upon a previous council development strategy of growth in and around the edges of Telford, while sanctioning growth in the nearby town of Newport and other “key rural settlements”.

Included in the proposals are three new communities which will extend several rural areas at the northern end of Telford, with 3,100 homes and around 168 acres of employment land at Wheat Lesows the largest, alongside smaller, mostly residential schemes at Bratton and Muxton.

Sites identified in the plan also include nearly 300 homes for Telford town centre, which could be built upon two car parks near Telford Shopping Centre. A further allocation for 15 homes could be built at the former Wilko’s store near Southwater.

Around 200 homes are already being built as part of the town’s Station Quarter development, with the council-backed Built to Rent scheme at Denmark House already completed.

A vote to approve the proposals will be put to the council’s full cabinet in November, before heading to full council for formal adoption.

Cllr Carolyn Healy, deputy leader and cabinet member for neighbourhoods, planning and sustainability, said the inspectors report was a “significant milestone” in the process, which first got under way in 2020.

“This reflects the considerable amount of work undertaken to prepare the plan and the input received from residents, businesses, organisations and other stakeholders throughout the process,” she said.

“We will now consider the inspectors’ recommendations through the council’s decision-making process and, subject to approval, look forward to taking the local plan to full council for consideration later this year.”