Issue - meetings

To receive the report on Planning Application TWC/2022/0924.

This was an application in relation to 31, 33, 35, 39, 41 & 43 Market Street, Oakengates, Telford, Shropshire, TF2 6EL & 1 - 8 & 10 - 22 (evens) Limes Walk, Oakengates, Telford, Shropshire, TF2 6EP and the redevelopment of Oakengates Town Centre comprising of the demolition of units 31, 33 and 35 Market Street, and 1, 3, 5 and 7 Limes Walk, refurbishment of 14no. retail units, erection of 10no. first floor residential dwellings and an improved public realm area.

This application was before Committee as it was a major application for which the Council is the applicant and required financial contributions via a S106.

An update report was tabled at the meeting which addressed further consultation responses that had been submitted since the publication of the report, together with the receipt of an in-shop and online petition.  Following this update a further three letters of representation had been received – one letter of objection and two letters in support of the application.  The letters contained no further material considerations.

The Planning Officer informed Members that at 8.10.3 of the report the exact figure for the bus shelter had now been received and if members were minded to approve the application the resolution would need to be amended to include the figure of £10,528.80.

Mr N Booth, member of the public, spoke against the application.  Although regeneration was needed he did not feel that the proposal was acceptable.  He raised concerns regarding the retail shops on both sides of the open space, the gateway to The Wakes, negative impact on a viable shopping centre, sequential tests had not been undertaken and antisocial behaviour.  He felt that the application would not enhance the existing footfall and would not fit the current character of the town and was on an old Roman road.  Further concerns were that the apartments had no easy access for older or disabled residents, there was no dedicated parking and he questioned the potential space for market stalls and its viability and the lack of a public toilet.  He asked that the application be reconsidered as part of the Telford Theatre remodelling.

During the debate some Members felt that the regeneration of the town centre on the whole was a good thing and welcomed the application which was a pleasant improvement, but raised concerns about anti-social behaviour and whether CCTV was in the area or could be installed.  It was noted that there had been no comments from Oakengates Town Council.  Other Members asked if there would be a time when the shops would experience a loss of trading during the works, would the traders have to pay more rent and had the businesses been offered alternative sites.  Further concerns were raised in relation to parking and usually there were link parking spaces to the flats.  Questions were raised as to whether some parking could be allocated to the residential units and if there was protection if car parking charges were introduced and whether there was a likelihood that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 338