I visited Telford's 'scenic suburbia' to find out what locals love about Lawley

So recent were most of the changes, that the rise of 'new' Lawley is captured by Google Street View.

But, for those unfamiliar with the area - or for those unable to cast your mind back 16 or so years - I'll summarise.

Plans for one of the largest urban extensions in the Midlands, or the 'residential development comprising 3,300 dwellings' known as Lawley Village, were first unveiled in 2005.

The series of modern housing estates would cluster around a mini town centre, sat atop green fields at the foot of the small hill that housed 'old' Lawley.

Today, the thriving community includes two primary schools, two care homes, a supermarket, a pub and a range of shops.

And work hasn't quite finished either - the development is forecast to be complete by 2028, with the latest application to build 250 new homes working its way through the planning process right this moment.

While I can't easily access public comments on the original plans for Lawley, I don't think I'd be wrong in assuming the 3,300 homes would have attracted a similar response to that generated by the latest.

As is quite often the case, large developments face the wrath of neighbours lamenting the loss of the peaceful green spaces on their doorstep - raising concerns about traffic, noise, crime and access to doctors.

But Lawley, new and old, is now home to thousands of people, and I've never met a single one who doesn't like it.

Andy Brady, 33, said it was the convenience of the area that brought him here: "It was Lawley's proximity to the M54 that first attracted me to the area. It's great for commuting as I can be on the motorway in a couple of minutes.

"That's not all I like about Lawley, though. Living here is easy - from getting my bike serviced, going for a haircut and doing a food shop, I can do it all without leaving Lawley."

Lawley's new-build vibe might not be everyone's cup of tea, but Andy reckons the developers have done a good job in creating what he dubbed a "scenic surburbia".

"It's an aesthetically pleasing area to live," he said. "There's a feeling of space that's missing from most new-build estates and there's an interesting mix of housing styles."

I must admit, new-build isn't my aesthetic of choice, but I can appreciate what the developers have tried to do with Lawley.

The houses on and around Birchfield Way wouldn't look out of place near a seaside, while across the busy dual carriageway architects have clearly been more sympathetic to 'old' Lawley and made everything look a little more quaint.

Rob Smith, 30, moved to Lawley from Newport around seven years ago but said he didn't fully appreciate it until Covid-19 and lockdown hit.

He said: "It’s a very peaceful place - despite all the development that’s still going on and new estates seemingly popping up every week.

“For a place that’s really exploded in size the way it has over the past 15 years, there’s a lot of cool history all around if you know where to look. There are still plenty of reminders of the parish as it used to be and even a history trail.

“Lawley is a bit like Telford in microcosm: it’s friendly, it’s well-connected and it’s growing fast, but you’ve still got easy access to loads of green space and a bit of peace and quiet when you need it.

"Limekiln Woods and the Wrekin are comfortably within walking distance and there are places where you can pretty reliably spot big herds of deer. That still hasn’t got old for me."

There's no arguing against this: not only is Lawley a perfect springboard for the many trails around New Works and the Wrekin, Lawley is a point on several marked 'ways', including the Telford 50, the Ironbridge Way and a Coronation Walk.

“I do wish there was a bit more to do in Lawley itself though," Rob added.

"There’s really only one pub and one cafe, in Morrisons. They’re both nice enough but I’d love it if more independent businesses could find a foothold in Lawley. You can't live on Domino’s and Papa Johns alone.

“There is the Lyfbar which keeps winning awards and is worth a visit in its own right. Plus Telford town centre is only up the hill and you can get on the M54 in five minutes or less if you want a bit more excitement.”