Labour leadership defends plan for thousands of new homes in Telford as opposition groups withdraw support

Labour leaders of Telford & Wrekin Council are moving the focus of development in their refreshed Local Plan away from the east/south east of the town to new “sustainable communities” at Bratton, Wappenshall and North East of Muxton.

Telford as a whole is set to take 8,312 net new homes up to 2040 under a refreshed local plan in addition to 9,060 homes already consented or completed.

Newport is earmarked to take around 175 net new homes up to 2040 in addition to more than 1,239 that have already been completed or have planning permission.

Rural areas have been earmarked for around 101 net new homes up to 2040 in addition to more than 1,313 that have already been competed or have planning permission.

A meeting of the Labour council’s Cabinet on Thursday approved putting the refreshed local plan forward to a meeting of the full council on February 27.

If approved there by the Labour majority, it will go forward for examination by Government inspectors.

Councillor Bill Tomlinson (Shawbirch & Dothill), the Lib Dem group leader, said: “The public needs to know that we do not have a choice, as Shropshire Council is finding to its peril. The only choice we have is where they are built.

“And we have to take account of needs from the Black Country. Of the 1,010 homes we have to build every year, 150 are for The Black Country. It is ridiculous but we have to abide by the rules.

“It is bonkers that we have to make up for other local authorities because they can’t find space.”

Councillor Tomlinson said three areas taking 8,000 homes is a “concern to me”.

“All the people coming to live there will be looking to get on the M54. The roads leading to junctions seven, six and five are already a problem.”

He warned of areas like Wrockwardine being used as a “rat run”.

“We can’t support three large developments without the infrastructure,” he added.

Councillor Tomlinson was also concerned that members of the public who send their comments to the council before a six week consultation opens on March 17 won’t have their views taken into account.

Councillor Tim Nelson (Newport North), the Conservative group leader said he expected a “robust” debate at full council.

“It is fundamentally wrong to build on our food production land,” he said, proposing more building within Telford.

Councillor Carolyn Healy (Lab, Ironbridge Gorge) is the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning & Sustainability who is tasked with getting the Local Plan review approved,

She said the council’s calculation of housing numbers “aligns with the calculation from the Government”.

Councillor Healy also defended provision of houses for demand from the Black Country under a legal “duty to co-operate” and said that Telford was created as a new town to create new homes.

She added that if the council were to adopt Councillor Nelson’s approach of building more housing in the built up area it would mean building on brownfield sites in Telford that have become valued green spaces, such as Telford Town Park.

“We are carrying on the vision of the development corporation with areas settled in the landscape. We are taking a landscape-first approach.

“Building in town would mean taking brownfield sites like Telford Town Park,” she said.

Councillor Healy also rejected Councillor Nelson over the loss of land used for food production.

“We would be losing 2.8 per cent of our agricultural land, which is not grade one,” she said.

Councillor Richard Overton (Lab, St Georges) the council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing & Enforcement, said Telford is a place where people are “proud to call home”.

“This is not just a document, it is a vision,” he said.

“Houses are homes. It is a debate to be had but we have to make sure that the plan works best for our residents, to help people get on the housing ladder, creating 17,000 jobs and keeping the green agenda at its heart.”

The cabinet approved the local plan review which will be debated by full council on Febuary 27.

If approved there will be a six week period of consultation from March 17 on the ‘soundness’ of the plan before it is sent to the planning inspectorate for approval.