Plans to partially demolish Telford Theatre in Oakengates look set to be approved at a planning meeting next week.
Telford Theatre closed in March this year as work on the redevelopment of Oakengates town centre got underway.
While plans for the theatre – which include the construction of a new main theatre auditorium, bar and restaurant – were revealed earlier this year, a reconsultation has been underway over parking and transport arrangements after the original plans, submitted in July, attracted criticism from some residents.
Ms Julie Mackinnon wrote: “We all know that Telford public transport system is poor and in the evening it will be non-existent. To expect the poor citizens of Oakengates to accommodate extra parking on their streets is unfair.”
One resident of Slaney Street added: “I am concerned that there will not be adequate parking for an expanded theatre. There is only just enough parking for the theatre at its current size.
“Slaney Street does not have enough parking for its residents and therefore we have to use the theatre car park for overspill parking. On a busy performance night, there will not be enough parking for theatregoers and residents.
“If people come to the theatre and cannot park it will put them off from coming again.”
Now, the plans have been amended, in the hopes of increasing parking for visitors and residents. 32 more parking spaces have been added to the proposal, inclusing 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.
11 new on-street spaces would also be provided on Slaney Street, which are expected to be used mainly by residents.
A report by planning officers, set to go before Telford & Wrekin Council‘s planning committee next Wednesday, recommends the plans for approval.
It states: “The application is proposing 129no. spaces, formed by remodelling the existing main car park and creating an additional 32no. spaces.
“If the floor space being created is translated directly into the parking standards within the Local Plan, a total of 174no. parking spaces would be required.
“Whilst this may appear as a shortfall, the reality is that this is a worst case scenario where both the main theatre auditorium and studio auditorium are filled to capacity and every visitor travels by car – the Applicant advises this will be a rare occurrence.
“In considering whether this is acceptable, it must be noted that residual parking is available across Oakengates Centre as part of the existing 390no. spaces and the Local Highways Authority advises this will be sufficient to accommodate additional visitors to the Theatre, particularly as theatre visits tend to be in the evening and this is when parking across Oakengates Centre has been vacated by commuters, businesses, retail and other daytime users.”
The full application is available to view online on Telford & Wrekin Council’s planning portal using reference number: TWC/2024/0521
