Up to 750 homes could be built in Oswestry as part of future development plans for the town – once the housing market is back on its feet.

A report for Shropshire’s new unitary authority giving various options for the town’s future development, includes concentrating growth in a triangle of land between the Oswestry bypass and the Shrewsbury road.

The urban growth would also see land dedicated to providing employment and to open space.

But an alternative suggests building more homes in the countryside and making villages more sustainable.

Planning officers, who have drawn up a number of options, say a significant amount of development is envisaged in Oswestry.

The plans are outlined in a new countywide document, Shropshire Core Strategy, Issues and Options, currently being debated by town councils and other interested bodies.

Individuals are also invited to comment on the report, which can be read at www.shropshire.gov.uk

Maria Cantwell, Oswestry Borough Council planning officer, said: “Consul- tation is at the heart of the document and we want to hear people’s views.”

Countywide options range from concentrating development around Shrewsbury, to developing along transport corridors of the A5 and A49, or basing growth on market towns.

There are also options for continuing the current trend of development in proportion to the size of settlements, or of rural rebalance, development in rural communities is encouraged to maintain village life.

The report says land between Shrewsbury Road, Middleton Road and the A5 Oswestry bypass in Oswestry has the potential to accom- modate about 750 homes.

“It is well related to the existing urban area, the college and proposed new leisure, readily accessible and is distant from the more sensitive landscapes on the other edges of the town,” it says.

The report says the main alternative would be to accommodate future housing growth on a number of small or medium scale sites around the edge of the town as well as making best use of brownfield sites within the existing built-up area.

People’s views will be put to the new Shropshire Council. Members will consider adopting the plan for future development in the county.

By Sue Austin