A development of 150 new homes, retail units and community facilities could be on the cards for a north Shropshire village bringing with them a raft of new jobs.

Higher Heath, near Whitchurch, is at the centre of the plans tabled by Grocontinental of Whitchurch.

The family-run distribution and storage firm wants to merge its three existing sites into one at Whitchurch Business Park.

Under the plans the firm, which employs about 300 staff, would move its operations in Higher Heath to an expanded Whitchurch site, paving the way for the vacant site to become a housing development.

Bosses say the plans are still taking shape but they have put forward an outline planning application to North Shropshire District Council for permission to build a residential and commercial development at Heathwood Road, Higher Heath.Linda Grocott, a managing director, said: “It’s a development that has been in the pipeline for a long time. Our long-term aim is to operate from one site at the business park.

“We are in the food industry so our customers demand high standards which means they prefer us to operate from modern buildings which we have at the business park.

“Potentially there could be new jobs from a construction point of view at Higher Heath and if we get more customers overall then there could be a spin-off for for further jobs.”

Katherine Vantham, planning agent for the bid, said: “The existing site is allocated for residential development.

“The application is for up to 150 homes plus buildings for retail and community use.”