Shropshire Star

Ellesmere Wharf development bid submitted and 'ticks all the boxes'

Plans to build a leisure complex and 250 properties in Ellesmere have been submitted – and they could create 140 jobs in the area.

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The Ellesmere Wharf site off Oswestry Road, Ellesmere, has been earmarked for development for months, with a hotel, restaurant, holiday cabins and boating marina all included in the suggestions.

After pre-application consultations as well as council support, the development has finally been submitted as an outline planning application.

Ellesmere Chamber of Trade and Commerce chairman Lincoln McMullan, said: "Sometimes you get applications that don't suit the town but this one really does – it ticks all the boxes.

"I can't wait, it is something that the town has been crying out for so it is very exciting.

"The whole project is fantastic – the marina, the log cabins, anything that will bring business to the town is a great idea."

And according to Mr McMullan, a lot of people in the town have offered full support to the plans hoping it will bring something for everybody.

He said: "With Ellesmere College we get a lot of parents who don't have anywhere to stay when they come to visit, so having a hotel in the town would be great."

He added: "And there are a lot of jobs that will come from it during the work, as well as afterwards in the hotel and the cafe and everything else.

"The homes will bring more children to the local school – everybody benefits."

The proposal, submitted by Nigel Thorns Planning Consultancy, says that there could be about 140 positions created from the build, with 35 jobs at the 120-bedroom hotel, 35 at the leisure spa, 40 roles at the pub or restaurant, 12 at the play barn, five on the marina, as well as 10 on the cabin site and six on the touring caravan site.

In a supporting document, developers said: "The proposed scheme has been carefully developed, with extensive consultation throughout, to ensure it meets all the policy requirements and is completely appropriate for the site."

Councillors have spoken of their support for the site and Mayor Alan Clarke said the council thought that rather than having sites dotted around the town, it would be "best to move them all into one".

But plans have since been backed by Shropshire Council for other developments around the town, including a proposal to build 130 homes south of The Hawthorns.

Plans are also set to be considered by councillors for a development of 10 homes off Church Street, close to the town's Mere.

All applications can be viewed on the Shropshire Council website.

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