Work to breathe new life into Ellesmere’s derelict Wharf will start in about four months, it has been revealed.
The announcement comes after multi-million pound plans to overhaul the former dairy site and build hundreds of homes, a food store, a pub, a restaurant and retirement apartments were agreed by district councillors yesterday.
The Dairy Crest creamery shut down more than two decades ago and people have been waiting for the 30-acre site to be revitalised ever since.
A series of planning applications have been submitted for the site since the early 1990s. PB Developments, which won outline planning permission yesterday, says some details need to be finalised but work could start in July or August.
Land has been set aside for a new medical centre. The land will remain unto- uched for five years while cash is secured to build it.
After North Shropshire District Council’s development control committee unanimously approved the plans, PB Development spokesman David Walker said he was delighted.
“It’s great news for the people of Ellesmere who have waited a long time for this day,” he said.
“We have tried to involve residents and obviously have worked well with the council to try to put a good scheme together. It’s just good news for everyone and very exciting.”
Ellesmere also looks set to benefit financially with cash to be allocated in different areas including £100,000 to improve education and £20,000 for ecological areas.
Mr Walker said: “We have to work out reserved matters on a lot of things but will continue to work with the council as we have done over the past 12 months.
“The first thing is to put the access and infrastructure in and we’ll put an application in for that.
“It would be nice to think we will be on site doing the infrastructure work in the summer, maybe July or August, which might take three to four months and then later in the year developing the bricks and mortar part.”
Ellesmere district councillor Averil MacDonald said: “We support and welcome this exciting application as the site has been a blot on our landscape for far too long.”
By Oliver Cartwright
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