Hundreds MORE homes could be built in Telford in a £156 million scheme which would create almost 3,000 jobs.

Developer Bovale wants to build the homes in Priorslee as part of plans which would also include a hotel and an office complex. They would be built at the site of the now demolished Celestica factory and would include 550 homes, a 6,500 square-metre hotel and 50,000 square metres of office space.

Bovale was granted outline planning permission for the scheme in November 2007 but has yet to get full approval from Telford & Wrekin Council work.

An application for full planning permission will go before the plans board meeting which starts at 6pm on Wednesday and council officers are recommending it is approved. It states the proposed development would see 2,700 jobs created through the offices and 160 with the hotel.

Council chiefs had expressed concerns about the amount of office space and the possible impact on the town centre.

But a report to the plans board says: “Telford town centre currently presents a number of sites with development potential for offices. However, it is unlikely that these sites are appropriate for the types of use being proposed.

“The development seeks flexible floorspace suitable for high technology or knowledge intensive employers, involving research and development activity related to the adjacent university and its strengths in engineering, ICT and polymers.

“The ambition for Telford town centre relates to different economic development clusters such as specialist business and professional services appropriate for a town centre location.

“Officers recognise that this proposal is a significant regeneration, investment and job creation opportunity at a time when few genuine economic development proposals are coming forward. It is felt on balance the benefits of the scheme to the borough as a whole in investment, regeneration, best use of previously used land and job creation are considerable.”

By Wayne Beese