Fewer new homes, Green Guarantee and space for up to 25,000 new jobs - Local Plan
The document that will shape planning decisions and land use in Telford and Wrekin to 2031 is published ahead of consultation later this summer.
The Local Plan, consultation on which is due to open on August 3, looks to limit the number of new homes to be built in the borough and reduce these by over 41 per cent from 26,500 agreed by a previous administration in 2010, to 15,555. Of these around 80 per cent have either been built or already have planning permission.
It proposes to allocate 17 sites for development for only 3,499 additional new homes, additional to those already approved, to meet the needs of local people, support and sustain services and support economic growth to 2031. At least 25% of new homes are expected to be affordable.
Most of this growth will centre on the Telford area, focused on three key sites - two bordering the M54 in eastern Telford, linking to development in Telford town centre and main transport links. The other main site is close to the MoD’s new main Logistics Hub at Donnington which is being developed and will open in the next 18 months.
The plan will also enlarge Telford’s unique Green Network of linked protected open spaces and establish a Green Network in Newport for the first time.
In addition to this, the Council will also create a Green Guarantee, protecting community green spaces such as parks, woodlands, recreation areas and local nature reserves in addition to the Green Network policy.
The Council is identifying 100 such sites in the borough that the Green Guarantee will protect from any development. It will also ask the community to help identify at least another 50 sites to boost this to 150 additional protected sites to help mark Telford’s 50th anniversary in 2018.
The plan proposes to allocate 149 hectares of new employment land on 28 sites. This could provide for up to 25,000 new jobs in the borough.
Consultation on the Local Plan runs from 3 August to 25 September and full details of this can be seen at www.telford.gov.uk/localplan
Councillor Richard Overton, the Council’s deputy leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, Public Health and Protection, said: “This is a very clear statement on what we believe should be the direction of the borough’s future housing and employment development. The number of new homes is over 41% less than what was agreed in 2010. This plan would give us further power to block speculative developments outside the plan
“It reduces the numbers of new homes to what we think fits with our forecast growth, using brownfield sites where possible.
“The new homes allocation in 2010 for Telford and Wrekin of 26,500 was too big, and of the new lower number of 15,555, 4 in 5 have already been built or have planning permission.
“We’re also committing to expanding our Green Network and to protect another 100 community green spaces from any development and will soon add to this. The borough’s mix of urban and green space is what makes this borough so special.
“Finally, the plan envisages creating new employment land that could provide for up to 25,000 jobs – essential to support growth in population and that this remains a place that people live and work in.
“We want to hear from people what they think about the plan – for example are the sites for development the right ones and, if not, where would people want them to go?
“It’s vital we hear as many views as possible and I urge you to get involved in the consultation.”
The plan will go to the Council’s cabinet for consideration on July 23 and if backed will go for consultation. It would then be revisited after consultation and the final version is due to be adopted by the end of 2016.
