Agenda and draft minutes

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To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 10 December 2025.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting of the Planning Committee held on 10 December 2025 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

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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 each planning application.

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   The current centre was outdated, energy inefficient and booked solid from morning through to late evening with groups turned away regularly due to lack of room or time.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 PC67

This application was for the change of Use of a dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a small children’s residential care facility (Use Class C2) and creation of a driveway at 7 Pemberton Road, Admaston, Telford, Shropshire TF5 0BL.

The application was before Planning Committee due the significant number of objections that had been received.

An update report was tabled at the meeting which contained details of two further objections.

Councillor K Tonks, Ward Councillor, spoke against the application on behalf of the residents although they understood the need for these facilities.  Concerns were raised regarding safeguarding and safety due to the location on a busy junction, parking obstruction particularly at staff changeover, the dwelling being semi-detached and the significant harm it would cause the neighbours.  Other concerns raised were the noise impact as no assessment had yet taken place, it was against Policy BE1, the lack of acoustic assessment which could fail the test under the NPPF and the discrepancies that had been contained in the original application.

Mr H Buckley, Applicant, spoke in favour of the application and assured residents that all of their concerns were at the forefront of their planning.  In relation to traffic and congestion, the staff rota changeovers were outside of rush hour and there was ample space for three cars to park on the drive.  A green scheme would be implemented whereby the children would walk to school every day.  The children would not have significant needs and this would be intended for use for transition back to the family home.  Soundproofing would be undertaken if it was considered necessary.  A S184 application had been submitted in order to drop the kerb and landscaping would take place to keep the character of the community.

The Planning Officer informed Members that this was a proposed conversion from a dwelling to a children’s care home for three young persons between the ages of 7 and 17.  The scale and design of the dwelling would not be altered and the retrospective driveway was considered appropriate.  There would be a condition requesting details of the landscaping to the driveway to enhance the character and appearance of the site and it surrounding area and it was not considered overdevelopment.  The site was located near to the Shawbirch local centre and both primary and secondary schools and was situated within the sustain urban area and was compliant with Policy HO7 of the Telford and Wrekin Local Plan.  The specialist housing team had raised no objection and there was a local sufficiency need for this type of housing.  Amendments had been made to the scheme including the staff rota which would be staffed by two staff and a manager on a sift basis.  There would be a staggered approach to changeovers in order to prevent disruption and to ensure there was sufficient off road parking which had been amended to three spaces.  It was considered that although it was a semi-detached property that the proposal would not significantly prejudice, undermine or  ...  view the full minutes text for item PC68