Plans to develop Lightmoor were first brought to public attention by the Commission for New Towns (CNT) in 1995. The Lightmoor Action Group (LAG) was formed by local people to oppose this development in principle and a public meeting was held where the opposition of local people and environmental groups, including Friends of the Earth, to large scale development on the only remaining unspoilt greenfield site in south west Telford was made clear. Little more was heard until the summer of 1997 when CNT announced the area was being considered again for development, under existing planning approvals.

This preliminary report has been prepared by the Lightmoor Action Group (LAG) with the objective of bringing to the public's attention , the wildlife and historical importance of Lightmoor, which we consider to be a unique and beautiful area of Telford, and to stress the need to keep as much of it as possible intact in order to preserve its high environmental value.

The report outlines current CNT development proposals, followed by a brief description of Lightmoor. It then sets out the main environmental arguments put forward by LAG against developments proposals on the scale currently planned. The final part of the report comprises a series of simple appraisal plans, associated notes and illustrative photographs prepared in 1995 which highlight the key landscape, wildlife and historical features as identified by LAG as the most significant environmental assets which we consider to deserve a much more detailed and specialist level of assessment before potentially damaging decisions are made.

The report also suggests an alternative option for the development of Lightmoor, which would protect and preserve the most important area intact and offer a long term, sustainable future.

CURRENT DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS & PLANNING POLICIES

The area of Lightmoor covered by development plans by the Commission for New Towns (CNT). Outline proposals for up to 750 houses plus some commercial & industrial development were approved by the DoE in 1991 under a 'Section 7(1) Submission' No243, which was a planning application prepared by Telford Development Corporation under the New Towns legislation. It is assumed, for the purposes of this report, that the original 7(1) proposals would form the basis of a developer's final scheme. This 7(1) layout is incorporated in the current Wrekin Local Plan.