Residents to be consulted on proposals to develop brownfield sites

The council is one of only nine local authorities which have made successful bids to the Local Development Order Incentive Fund.

This is a Central Government pot which aims to help local authorities unlock brownfield sites for residential development.

The £175,703 funding award will support the investigative work and preparation of each site to a stage where it could get outline planning permission – providing greater certainty for potential developers.

Telford & Wrekin Council has identified three key brownfield sites in its funding bid. It plans to use the cash to deliver a number of housing development proposals for consultation.

The sites are the former Phoenix School site in Webb Crescent, Dawley, land adjacent to Thomas Telford School at Old Park and land adjacent to Granville Country Park at Donnington Wood.

The council is currently undertaking site assessments to support the masterplanning of these three sites prior to consultation events at the beginning of October.

“We are doing our utmost to support the development of these brownfield sites because doing that will release the pressure on green field land,” said Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for Housing.

“We have therefore taken advantage of this government initiative in order to make these sites more attractive for developers to submit applications.

“By using Local Development Orders to simplify the planning process in respect of brownfield sites, certain developments can take place without the need for a planning application.

“This provides an incentive for developers to proceed without the time and cost implications of having to submit a planning application.”

Opportunities for residents to be involved in planned consultation events will be promoted over the coming weeks.