Multi-million pound plans to transform Ellesmere’s derelict Wharf could win approval as early as March, it was revealed today.

The site has now been levelled by PB Developments, which has submitted a planning application to build hundreds of homes, a food store, pub, restaurant, a medical centre and retirement apartments for people aged over 55 on the site.

In a report to North Shropshire District Council’s cabinet ahead of a meeting tonight, the authority has revealed that it is “likely to be considering whether to grant planning permission by about March”.

The council is also poised to suspend plans for an extra planning document for the former dairy because its owner, PB Developments, is ploughing ahead so quickly with their planning application to transform the site.

The authority’s cabinet is set to suspend work on the supplementary planning document to stop confusion and to prevent time and taxpayers’ money being wasted.

The report to councillors states that because the development control committee could make a decision so soon, their own planning document would not be finished in time.

A care home, extra sheltered housing as well as a pharmacy, a creche and parking are also included in the plans.

The report to cabinet says: “Progress by the new owners has been so rapid that it caught up and passed the work required to prepare a supplementary planning document.”

It adds: “This rapid progress is actually very good news for the potential redevelopment of this long derelict site.”

District council chiefs have said that stopping work on their report “will avoid confusion that would be caused by the consideration of two sets of proposals for the area and allow the focus to remain for the next few months on the private sector development scheme”.

Ellesmere town councillors have yet to debate the planning application and are set to meet with members of Ellesmere Rural Parish Council at a special meeting soon.

While in February residents are also set to take to Ellesmere’s streets to show their support for a new medical practice in the development.

By Oliver Cartwright