Agenda and minutes

In respect of planning application TWC/2022/0924, Councillor A Jhawar advised that he was a member of Oakengates Town Council but had not been involved in any discussions on this application.

In respect of planning application TWC/2022/0924, Councillor P Scott declared that he had been involved in a conversation on social media in relation to good faith and a comment made on the application but he had not shown any pre-determination and he would not make a decision until he had heard from all the speakers on the application and came into the meeting with a completely open mind.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 14 December 2022 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

None.

None.

Please note that the order in which applications are heard may be changed at the meeting.  If Members have queries about any of the applications, they are requested to raise them with the relevant Planning Officer prior to the Committee meeting.

Members had received a schedule of planning applications to be determined by the Committee and fully considered each report and the supplementary information tabled at the meeting regarding planning applications TWC/2022/0924.   

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 PC338

To receive an update on a recent Planning Inspector Decision.

The Development Management Service Delivery Manager gave a brief verbal update on a recent decision of the Planning Inspectorate.