'Penis-shaped' housing estate application lodged

Developers behind designs for a new housing estate - described by local residents as "penis-shaped" - have requested outline planning permission.

During a consultation exercise last summer for the 250-home scheme, hundreds of residents said they were opposed to plans for the Telford green-field site known as Lawley West.

Among other issues, people cited road and access arrangements, planning documents said.

The applicants Telford & Wrekin Council and Homes England said the area was included in the Local Plan for homes and would "make a positive contribution toward the housing targets".

One anonymous resident told the BBC last year: "I can't believe somebody didn't look at that [design] and snigger, because we've all cottoned on."

Another resident, Antony Iles, said the shape was "as absurd as the plans themselves".

However, they said the "ridiculous" designs should not detract from other serious concerns, including the pressure on local schools, GP practices and dentists.

The site is a back-filled former coal mine and the planning agents said mine workings were not considered to be a "constraint to the development".

There were 286 responses to last summer's consultation with 85% against access and road arrangements and the amount of car parking, the planning documents revealed.

The report, put together by agents AtkinsRealis, said many of those who replied were concerned the proposed development would result in losing one of Lawley's last remaining green spaces.

But they also said, while the final layout would be determined "at the reserved matters stage", the features of the site lent themselves to "providing new dwellings with attractive vistas" across the Wrekin.

"The site's boundaries also benefit from natural buffers from existing trees and hedgerows, which would provide a level of screening," they added.

Lawley West has been allocated for residential development under the Telford and Wrekin Local Plan (2018).

Planning documents said the developers could provide payments to help cope with demands on NHS services.

They also said the council would seek to provide housing that was as affordable as possible for residents who were most in need.

The application seeks outline permission at this stage with full details set to be submitted, if it is approved, and is open for public consultation on the council's website.

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

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.