Telford industrial units get planning permission as council agrees to plant replacement trees

Telford & Wrekin Council agreed to plant 20 replacement trees after having their plans approved – which include the removal of seven trees.

The four industrial units will be built at Stafford Park 11 on the current amenity land fronting units A1-A2.

Plans for the units include solar panels on the roofs of the buildings and four electrical vehicle charging points.

“The scheme proposes four high-quality industrial units constructed of a varying mix of materials,” said a council planning officer.

“It is considered comparable to neighbouring buildings.”

The planning officer said that there are a number of trees on the site, including one covered by a tree preservation order which is proposed to be retained.

Seven trees are going to be removed as part of the development but to offset their removal 20 replacement trees will be planted with a minimum of seven semi-mature replacement trees.

“This will ensure the site continues to provide a soft and positive contribution to the street scene,” added the planning officer.

“It is not however considered that the site is sufficient to accommodate all 20 replacement trees. The loss of trees is considered to be acceptable on balance given the significant employment benefits along with the replacement planting.”

The council has agreed to pay £10,400 for the remaining 13 replacement trees – £800 per tree.

The planning officer concluded that there had been no technical objections to the scheme and they recommended that plans were approved.

Councillor Peter Scott said: “I’m very pleased with the solar panels on the roofs because most people seem to think they should be on all the roofs on all industrial estates.”

However, the Newport west ward councillor raised a query about the off-site trees and said that there had been a few applications in recent years where trees were proposed to be planted off-site.

He added that a ‘a huge pot of money’ had been set aside but asked if any had been planted and asked where the off-site trees from this application were going.

Councillor Giles Luter supported the application saying: “As the town grows in population we look at areas that we can support economic growth.

"This is the perfect area for commercial units to be placed which will then result in further employment in the borough. That’s something that we really should encourage.”

The plans were unanimously approved by councillors.