Agenda item

This was an application for the erection of a three storey 71 bedroom care home on land adjacent to The Shires, Shifnal Road, Priorslee, Telford

The Planning Officer drew Members’ attention to an error in the report at 8.15 which referred to “. . . the current application proposes 27 spaces for 69 bedrooms . . .” which should have read “. . . the current application proposes 27 spaces for 71 bedrooms . . .”.

Councillor V Fletcher, Ward Member, had requested that the application be determined by the Planning Committee.  It was also before Committee due to financial contributions being sought for the upgrading of nearby publicly accessible open space and towards a traffic regulation order.

Councillor V Fletcher, Ward Member, spoke against the application and raised concerns regarding the clearing of the Japanese Knot Weed from the site which had exposed the embankments leaving loose debris, the lack of a stabilisation plan, lack of car parking spaces, £5000 towards a TRO which would just displace the parking within the vicinity, increased traffic, poor drainage and sewerage system and lack of foul water report.   

The Planning Officer informed Members that there was currently a valid consent for 18 extra care apartments and a 69 bedroomed care home and the application before them was a less intensive development with a more suitable layout.  It was a carefully considered design which did not dominate the street scene.  It was the Planning Officer’s view that parking arrangements were satisfactory and there were 10 cycle spaces and 3 motorcycle spaces and was in close proximity to the railway station.  Conditions would be put in place to stabilise the slopes and the exposed embankments.  The sewers could be connected to the current system in place, albeit some distance away.

During the debate, some Members raised concerns regarding the out of date design and access statement PPS 1 and 3 which no longer exist, parking provision was based on the out of date Local Plan, lack of parking, the distance to public transport and the unsafe footpath conditions, lack of enforcement on the double yellow lines, the increased traffic using the Shifnal Road, poor drainage and how this could connect to the current sewerage system, construction plan and construction traffic parking along the busy road, not meeting CQC requirements, lack of staff parking and visitor parking.  Other Members felt that this was a good scheme and a good news story as more care homes were needed in the borough,

On being put to the vote it was, by a majority:

RESOLVED – that in respect of planning application TWC/2019/0228 delegated authority be granted to the Development Management Service Delivery Manager to grant planning permission subject to:

a)         the Applicant to pay contributions of £5,000 towards highway infrastructure and £5,000 towards local green space improvements (Tree Maintenance and Tree Planting) to be secured by a s.106 Agreement (if not already secured prior to the issuing of the consent) with the Local Planning Authority (subject to indexation from the date of committee with the terms to be agreed by the Development Management Service Delivery Manager); and

b)        the conditions set out in the report (with the authority to finalise conditions and reasons for approval to be delegated to the  Development Management Service Delivery Manager).