Shropshire Star

Telford Theatre redevelopment to begin after plans to improve parking given the green light

Councillors have approved plans to redevelop Telford Theatre in Oakengates after amendments were made to increase parking for visitors and residents.

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Telford Theatre closed in March this year as work on the redevelopment of Oakengates town centre got underway.

Plans to almost entirely rebuild the theatre were included in the town centre-wide redevelopment, to deliver what the council called "upgraded state-of-the-art facilities".

The plans included the construction of a new two-tiered main theatre auditorium to seat 756, a bar, a restaurant, a small studio theatre to seat 98, and improved backstage facilities.

Recently, a reconsultation has been underway over parking and transport arrangements after the original plans, submitted in July, attracted criticism from some residents.

One resident of nearby Slaney Street - who said they use the car park outside the theatre to park near their home - raised concerns that residents would have to accommodate extra parking on their streets.

Others pointed to the lack of public transportation which they claimed was "virtually non-existent" in the evening. 

An artist impression of the theatre. Photo: Telford & Wrekin Council
An artist impression of the theatre. Photo: Telford & Wrekin Council

The revised plans include the addition of 32 more parking spaces, including six new spaces in New Street car park, 14 as overspill at Hartshill Park and one additional space in the main Slaney Street car park.

They also included a travel plan - which planning officers called "comprehensive and detailed than is typical at this stage". 

The travel plan revealed that 10 per cent of visitors were estimated to use alternative transportation options than cars, but it was hoped that introducing measures would increase this to 20 per cent. 

Measures include "improving the wayfinding between the theatre and key transport hubs" and working closely with Arriva to coordinate bus arrivals and departures with performance start and finish times.

The revised plans went before Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee on Wednesday, where the council's planning officers recommended them for approval.

Committee member, Councillor Thomas Janke, said he was "encouraged by the efforts" of the applicant to revise parking and transport options, while Councillor Peter Scott said the plans would be a "huge boost to Oakengates".

The committee voted unanimously to approve the revised plans.

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