Telford & Wrekin Council consults residents over MoD plans
Telford & Wrekin Council is consulting residents about planning applications it has submitted, which aim to make Donnington a main centre for the Ministry Of Defence’s logistics operation.
The council put in two major applications earlier this month with the aim of delivering a logistics operation for the MoD.
The three public events will be an opportunity for local residents to gain more information about the applications.
This will include display boards outlining the scheme and feedback forms giving the public the opportunity to comment on the applications.
The events will be held between 3.30-8pm on:
- Thursday 6 February – Donnington Life Long Learning Centre, St Matthew's Rd, Telford, TF2 7RB
- Friday 7 February – Hadley & Leegomery Parish Council, Castle Farm Community Centre, High St, Hadley, TF1 5NL
- Monday 10 February – Kynnersley Village Hall, Kynnersley,Telford, TF6 6DX
Telford & Wrekin Council say if the Telford bid is successful, it will help protect jobs at Donnington and may also attract new jobs to the borough.
The council is seeking consent for two sites directly linked to MoD Donnington and the application is for the maximum requirements that the MoD would have in order to give them greater flexibility.
The applications include three major warehouses, associated car parking and offices.
It includes a Fulfilment Centre which at its maximum would be 675,000 sq ft and up to 35 metres high in part. Whether all of this would be utilised would depend on whether the MoD decided that the warehouse should be fully automated, which would require a smaller footprint but maximum height.
On the same site, the planning application includes a further 200,000 sq ft warehouse as well as a 30,000 sq ft three storey office building.
The second planning application relates to a plot of land which is adjacent to the Telford International Railfreight Park.
It includes a 280,000 sq ft warehouse and distribution facility on land to the east of Hortonwood 37 and along the western boundary of the existing MoD Donnington site.
The planning applications are expected to go before Telford & Wrekin Council’s Planning Committee in March and the MoD decision on where its logistics operation is based is likely to be later this year.
Councillor Bill McClements, cabinet member for Finance and Enterprise, said: “This is an opportunity for residents to learn more about what this would practically mean for this part of Telford if we are successful and for them to give us feedback on our plans.
“This has been a long road and there are absolutely no guarantees of success but the potential rewards for the borough are huge. We owe it to the economy of Telford to do our very, very best to convince the MoD that we are the best option and these planning applications are a major part of that.
“If they are approved, it will mean that Telford is in the perfect place to provide whatever the MoD requires.
“I am confident that we can provide an excellent value for money solution for MoD’s future national logistics requirements.
“This would in turn safeguard existing jobs, create opportunities for new ones and raise Telford’s profile and prestige.”
