Issue - meetings

This application was for the erection of a two-storey parish community facility building with associated car park on land adjacent Lawley Village Primary Academy, Bryce Way, Lawley, Telford, Shropshire

An update report was tabled at the meeting and set out details in relation to It a Financial Contribution of £5000 towards Travel Plan Monitoring, as well as a Section 106 Monitoring Fee.   Payment of the planning obligations would be via a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the applicant/landowner, instead of an upfront payment.

This application was before Members due to the significant number of objections which had been received.  

Councillor Z Hannington, Ward Member, spoke in support of the application and expressed that the growth and transformation had brought with it a pressing need for the development.  It was much more than just constructing a building, it was an essential social infrastructure intended to bring together, support and empower a diverse community whose current facilities were no longer sufficient.   The site sat within the Lawley Sustainable Urban Extension and fully aligned with Strategic Policy SP1 and Policy COM1.  It was 300 metres from Lawley local centre and accessible by foot, cycle and public transport.   The current centre was outdated, energy inefficient and booked solid from morning through to late evening with groups turned away regularly due to lack of room or time.  Lawley’s population had surged to over 12,000 residents and would head beyond 15,000 as new homes were filled.   This application was for a purpose-built centre with a much larger main hall, flexible rooms for clubs and classes, meeting spaces, a welcoming foyer and café.  Proper storage would ensure regular groups could function. Six full-time equivalent jobs would be created and it would give local organisations the certainty and capacity they required.   In relation to matters of funding, these were not relevant to the planning decision.  The school facilities could not meet the community need due to safeguarding, restricted hours and the busy school day limiting community access and they could not deliver the flexible evening weekend and multi -use access that residents and voluntary groups relied on.   The proposal complemented the provision and would not replace the current offer.  There was no conflict with Policy NE6 in relation to green network and there were no technical objections from Highways, Drainage Team, Environmental Health or the Coal Authority and the Healthy Spaces and Ecology Officers supported the application subject to conditions.

Councillor M Boylan, Lawley and Overdale Parish Council, spoke in favour of the application as the Chair of the Parish Council.  Online and face to face consultation had taken place with residents on the application, together with surgeries and drop-in sessions.  Comments that had been received had been fed into the application process.  There was a robust business plan and business case for a community asset which was much needed within the area.  The school could not be utilised during the day and all other options, such as extending the school, had been explored and alternative sites within  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67