Tentative date for completion of major project on new homes and community space in Telford
Fingers are being crossed that a major conversion project to create homes and a community space in Telford will be ready in September.
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The Gower School House, in St Georges, is a former Victorian school house and cottage hospital which is being converted into 13 homes and a community space.
Councillors were told on Tuesday (Feb 18) that all being well the project is on track to be completed in the autumn.
September was mentioned at a meeting of St George’s & Priorslee Parish Council.
Councillor Rob Cadman, who chairs a parish council group following the project, told his colleagues that the roof of the building has now been completed.
“The rain will stay on the outside,” he said. “The inner ceiling had to come down because it was not good enough. It has new insulation.
“The bell tower has come down, it was in a bad conditon. A replica of it will be made to make it look like it once did.”
The project has been delayed by issues to do with its age, including the surprise discovery of a Victorian water tank. ”
He added: “It is now progressing nicely.”
The meeting was told that families could be moving in soon to the homes that are being built by Nuplace, Telford & Wrekin Council’s housing company.
Nuplace, Telford & Wrekin Council and the parish council are working together on the project.
It will provide 13 homes within the scheme with three two bedroom homes to be delivered within the southern wing of the existing building alongside 10 two bedroom new build dwellings to the rear.
The parish council has an earmarked budget of some £121,038 for the community space part of the project. It will be spending it on fixtures and fittings.
Councillor Stephen Handley said he had seen cement mixers at the site and kitchen units being put in place.
“The decorators will be in soon,” he said. “Before long people will be in there calling these houses home.”
Councillor Handley said he was keeping his “fingers crossed” for completion in September 2025.
Councillor Richard Overton, who chairs the parish council and is also deputy leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, said he too is keeping his “fingers crossed” for an autumn opening date.
The project will mean that the council will get brand new offices and will be able to move out of the Parish Centre, in Grove Street, on the site of a school which will be able to expand into the vacant space.
The Gower School House was built in 1873 and is Grade II listed.
Residents and local groups had objected to the proposal, complaining new homes would create extra traffic and put more pressure on school and GP surgery places and said keeping the Gower Street venue wholly for community use would be better for the area.
But, in a report for Telford and Wrekin’s Planning Committee from 2021, council officers said financial analysis found “a standalone conversion to community use would not be viable” and, despite the reduction in floorspace, the new facility would be of better quality than the building in its current condition.
