St George’s care home plan approved

A decision has been made to approve planning permission for a children’s care home in St Georges. The plans had been met with mixed reactions from residents and local councillors.

The proposal, located on Freeston Avenue, will see four dwelling houses converted into a residential institution for vulnerable young people.

The application, submitted by Ashlee Homes Supported Living, has been at the centre of a debate over its potential impact on the local community, particularly concerning traffic and parking.

The initial plan for eight children and eight staff was amended to a smaller scale of four children and four staff members at any one time, offering one-on-one care.

Concerns were raised by the St Georges and Priorslee Parish Council, which objected to the proposal, citing worries about increased traffic on the already busy residential street.

Residents also voiced their opposition, with fourteen letters of objection highlighting issues such as inadequate parking, anti-social behaviour concerns, and a change to the character of the neighbourhood.

However, the Telford & Wrekin Council’s planning report concluded that the proposal was acceptable.

The report stated that the site is in a sustainable location with good transport links and that the proposed ten parking spaces would be sufficient to accommodate staff and visitors.

It also noted that the dwellings could realistically be occupied by up to sixteen people if they were sold on the open market, which would likely generate more noise and traffic than the care home.

The planning committee granted delegated authority to the Development Management Service Delivery Manager to give full planning permission, provided a number of conditions are met.

These include restrictions on the number of children and staff, and the submission of an operational management plan. The council’s Specialist Housing Team also supported the plan, stating that there is a need for this type of accommodation in the borough.