Council to ask for controversial factory plans to be withdrawn

A council is to call on a government agency to withdraw factory plans, understood to be a toilet roll plant, on a site in Telford after the proposals attracted more than 1,000 objections.

The site in Shawbirch was set for employment development by Telford & Wrekin Council but concerns were raised over the scale of the building.

The outline application had been put forward for land owned by government agency Homes England, which had been designated for employment use for 40 years.

“Any specific proposed use of the land would require a separate, new planning application. Issues relating to scale, layout, external appearance, landscaping, impact on the environment and road network would be considered as part of that application, if detailed proposals are submitted,” the council said.

The council said that the Shawbirch site is one of the Government’s and the region’s largest employment sites “and as such is seen as a major investment site”.

There has been strong interest in the land from a number of companies, it added.

Council leader Shaun Davies said: “It is clear that the outline application being made in respect of the site has caused considerable concern among residents and councillors.

“Having spoken with Cllrs Bill Tomlinson, Karen Tomlinson and Karen Blundell and my own Cabinet at length about their concerns, I have asked council officers to suggest to the Government agency to withdraw this application.

“It is of course important to recognise, as many do including local councillors, that this land is designated for employment use and has been for over 40 years – but any development that may come forward in future must of course be appropriate and subject to a specific planning application and to consultation.”