Developer calls for trebling house numbers on site

The number of homes earmarked for a village site should be more than trebled to to contribute to community benefits, a developer says.

Land at the junction of Hay Street in Tibberton, near Newport, has been pencilled in to take 25 homes in the draft local plan, but Boningale Developments said it needed to take 85.

A plan for the higher number was withdrawn in May last year, after highways officials raised concerns.

But Doug Moulton, representing Boningale, told a hearing the local community could lose £88,000 in developer money to help a subsidised village bus service keep running for another five years.

A 2014 plan for up to 60 homes had been recommended for approval, but was thrown out at the planning committee stage.

The developers told planners they were reconsidering options and wanted to work with the council.

Moulton told planning inspectors the site could not contribute to Telford & Wrekin Council's housebuilding targets, unless the site accepted more than 25 homes.

He said a new access into the site would be expensive and it needed to be paid with the housing allocation.

"An increased allocation to 85 units is needed for viability of the site," Moulton said.

"It needs to increase to bring forward benefits for the local community."

Council officials told inspectors they believed the housing was "deliverable" and could be a part of its five-year supply figures.

They added the issue would be investigated and the inspectors updated with any new information.

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

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