Scaly residents relocated as plans for 135 homes on Telford school site approved

Plans to build 135 homes and a 72-bed retirement living complex in Telford were approved after some very special warmth-loving tenants were moved off the site.

A community of viviparous lizards had established their homes on the former Phoenix School, in Manor Road, Dawley, and were moved - perhaps temporarily - to new habitats.

A spokesperson for Telford & Wrekin Council said: "Work to safely translocate lizards from the former Phoenix School development site in Dawley was commissioned by the developer, Lovell Partnerships."

The council, which was the applicant for the development, says the lizards, also known as common lizards, were "translocated" over a period of weeks to nearby suitable habitats where that "can continue to thrive."

During the construction of the site, fencing will stop them returning and be at risk from building activities.

But after the development is complete and the fencing has been removed the experts anticipate that lizards may naturally return to gardens and other green spaces.

Approval for the development of the former primary school site, which closed in 2013, comes with some 31 conditions. They include the involvement of archaeologists because of the importance of the site.

There will also be an area for allotments to be run by the Dawley Allotment Society through a long-term lease.

And a bus service with new shelters is set to be diverted through the site to alleviate issues with the narrow Deepfield Road.

Planning documents show that Sport England maintained its opposition despite the sports fields not being used for five years.

The applicants were able to demonstrate that there would be no net loss of playing fields in the borough following developments elsewhere.

Planners decided that the redevelopment of site would be a "well-designed sustainable addition to the community of Little Dawley."

Officials recorded that there were 12 objections to the development and 14 in support.

Opponents objected to traffic being added to the area and the scale of the development in a small community.

One wrote: "I agree that something does need to be done with the land but 140 houses and a complex is far too much for such a small community."

Supporters welcomed the addition of allotments.

One supporter wrote: "We have to plan for a changing climate, affecting all infrastructure.

"So anything to cool down roads, houses infrastructure is a good thing. Which means trees, and including nature."

Health commissioners have asked for a developer contribution of £265,982 for local services.