Debate clashes over plan for thousands of homes

Plans to build thousands of new homes in Telford and Wrekin were branded the "pillage" of the countryside during a debate between councillors in which others spoke of the necessity for development.

Councillor Carolyn Healy, of Labour-run Telford and Wrekin Council, said the loss of 2.8% of farmland was part of a "balance we need to strike" to meet growing housing needs.

Full council approved the step under the Local Plan, which is to go out for public consultation from Monday before being sent to government inspectors for approval.

It came after detracting views were lodged, including those of councillor Andrew Eade, from the opposition Conservative group, who made the "pillaging" comment.

The proposed strategy, covering a 20-year period, is to expand Telford northwards.

Three extensions are planned for north of Bratton, Wappenshall and northeast of Muxton.

The authority has also decided to keep green spaces in urban areas while "removing" development sites in some villages.

Healy, the cabinet member leading a review of the plan, told Thursday's meeting new homes were needed.

"It will involve 2.8 per cent of our farming land and that is a balance we need to strike to meet the needs that we have for our growing population," she said.

The proposals include:

• The Bratton area adopting 2,100 homes and two hectares of employment land
• A "new sustainable community" of about 2,700 dwellings for Muxton
• Land north of A442 Wheat Leasows being developed to become a sustainable community of about 3,100 homes with 68 hectares of employment land

Eade said the local authority was co-operating with Black Country councils to cover some of their housing needs.

He also claimed five in every seven homes would go to meet "uncontrolled immigration", basing this on a comparison between national immigration figures and the government's annual national homes targets.

At the meeting, Jenny Urey, an independent councillor representing Muxton, called for the matter to be deferred so members could get more data.

"I am fuming that this decision is being made," she said.

"The housing is not needed, I do not know where these needs are coming from."

Liberal Democrat members said they could not support the plan without seeing the proposals for related infrastructure.

Conservative group leader Tim Nelson said there were parts of the plan with which he agreed but overall was against it.

He also called for a policy of "densification" to protect farming land for food production.

Healy said housing demand was being driven "from without our own population" as people grew older and needed a different type of housing.

The Local Plan review was approved, with 33 votes in support, 14 against and one abstention.

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This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.