Cabinet to consider latest stage of Local Plan and borough’s Transport Growth Strategy
Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet will consider two reports, one on the latest stage of the Draft Local Plan and another on the Transport Growth Strategy in the New Year.
The Telford & Wrekin Local Plan will set out how and where development will take place in the borough and will guide future planning decisions up to 2031.
The Council’s Transport Growth Strategy will set out the transport infrastructure and investment that is required to accommodate future housing, business and population growth in Telford and Wrekin.
This ensures that the borough retains its competiveness to attract inward investment, create jobs and improves quality of life for residents and visitors.
The Council completed a period of public consultation on the Draft Local Plan over the summer and early autumn of 2015.
As a result of comments and advice received during this consultation period, a number of revisions have been made to the Local Plan.
The borough’s housing requirement of 15,555 new homes by 2031, a reduction of 41% on the figure previously set by the Council in 2010, remains unchanged in Local Plan but other changes have been made to improve the Plan, clarify matters and to respond to representations received.
The changes made to the Local Plan can be seen in the full report online here and include:
• Reducing the allocation of land for housing at the Beeches, Ironbridge and at the Nedge in response to public representations
• Creating a new strategic landscape area around Lilleshall to protect the village
• Emphasising the Telford Town Centre’s role as a sub regional centre while confirming Lawley and Ironbridge as District Centres
• Strengthening the policy protection afforded to the Green Network and the commitment to provide a broad mix of housing tenure.
The report confirms that the Council is now ready to publish a version of the Local Plan that it intends to submit to the Secretary of State for Independent Examination during summer 2016.
Linked to the Local Plan the Cabinet will also consider the Council’s Transport Growth Strategy. This includes long term infrastructure work to Brockton Interchange and the stretch of the A442 between the Leegomery roundabout to the Hadley roundabout.
The Council has already secured £22m of central government investment towards delivering the Transport Growth Strategy and will continue to work to secure further funding.
Councillor Richard Overton, cabinet member for Housing, Public Health and Protection, said: “The Draft Local Plan is now into the final stage before it is submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination next summer and adopted by the end of 2016.
“We have taken on board comments and responses to the previous consultation periods and have incorporated these into the Local Plan.”
Councillor Angela McClements, cabinet member for Communities, Regeneration and Transport, said: “The Transport Growth Strategy for the borough supports the aims of the Local Plan to ensure the future growth and competitiveness of Telford and Wrekin.
“It is important that we continue to secure developer contributions and central government funding to deliver the strategy.”
The reports will be considered by Telford & Wrekin’s Cabinet on Thursday 7 January.
