Plan for new hot food trailer in Telford industrial estate goes to appeal after council's refusal
Plans for a new catering trailer on Halesfield in Telford have gone to appeal after the local authority threw out the scheme on visual and ecological grounds.
A bid to bring a new hot food stop to one of Telford’s busiest industrial estates has sparked a planning dispute, after the council refused permission and the applicant launched a formal appeal.
Last summer, Severn Management Ltd applied for permission to open a catering trailer on land near Halesfield 9 in Telford, which it said would serve hot food and drinks to employees on the nearby industrial estate, as well as the general public.
The company also applied for permission to site a 20-foot shipping container on the land to be used as a seating area for the business.
However, Telford & Wrekin Council rejected the scheme, ruling that the site formed part of the "general green infrastructure" of the area.
The council also stated that "insufficient information" had been provided to determine the impact the new facility would have on biodiversity.
Unhappy with the council's decision, the applicant has now lodged an appeal with the Government Planning Inspectorate, arguing that the authority wrongly refused the plans and failed to consider the small-scale and economic benefits of the proposal.
Contesting the council's view, the appellant argues that the authority placed disproportionate weight on a small area of amenity grass and that concerns about appearance could be addressed through standard planning conditions, such as native hedging or screening.
The appeal also disputes the council’s assumption that trees would be removed to create parking spaces. The applicant says no parking was ever proposed, describing the facility as a “walk‑to” service for existing employees. It claims the council introduced parking requirements that were not part of the application, then refused the scheme based on the impact of those spaces.
Concluding, the appeal states that the scheme would having a positive economic contribution, creating two full-time jobs and one part-time job, and would reduce vehicle movements by giving workers access to food and welfare provision on-site.
It also stresses the reversible nature of the development, with both the trailer and container capable of being removed without permanent land loss.
The full application and appeal documents can be viewed online on Telford & Wrekin Council's planning portal, using reference number: TWC/2025/0446
Comment Guidelines
Iconic Media encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.