Work to build almost 200 homes on the site of Shrewsbury Town’s former Gay Meadow home is due to start in March, developers said today.

David Wilson Mercia has been granted planning permission to build a total of 179 properties, made up of 62 houses and 117 apartments, on the site of the old football ground in Abbey Foregate. The site was cleared after the club moved to its new home in Oteley Road in 2007.

The developer hopes to start building soon, having already begun work on building a marketing suite.

Jon Rowson, planning manager for David Wilson Mercia, said he was happy that the work had been given the go-ahead by Shropshire Council.

“We are delighted to have received planning consent on our development at the former Gay Meadow site in Shrewsbury. This flagship project, named Riverside Meadow, will provide a total of 179 new homes, including 62 houses and 117 apartments,” he said.

“Build work on the marketing suite is already well under way and we hope to open the development for sales in early February. Site preparation works will then begin in March.”

The company is yet to set a firm date for when the work will be completed and houses ready for occupation, with more details to be announced.

The plans also include flood alleviation measures and the creation of a new public park integrated with Abbey Gardens.

The proposals were granted planning permission by Shropshire Council, on condition that an emergency plan for evacuating the riverside properties during periods of flooding is drawn up.

Ian Kilby, development manger for the council, said the site had lain empty for several years. He added the ‘appearance of this key riverside site will be improved by the proposed residential scheme and the conservation area setting will be enhanced’.

And he said that the scheme should lead to ‘enhanced publicly accessible riverside green space along the riverside’.