Shropshire Star

Huge interest in new Shropshire business park which could bring 3,000 jobs

A number of companies have already contacted council officers about moving onto a new business park planned for the outskirts of Oswestry, Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow has revealed.

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Councillor Barrow described the plans for a 30-hectare site off the A5 Mile End roundabout as "potentially huge" for the region, bringing up to 3,000 jobs.

Developers working with Shropshire Council are now in the process of drawing up outline plans for the site, and as part of that process have submitted an application for a screening option to determine whether an environmental impact assessment will be needed. The site is currently fields which are used to graze livestock.

A screening option is required for developments above a certain size or in certain locations. The environmental impact assessment looks at the potential environmental impacts of the development proposals and is carried out by the developer and other relevant bodies. A decision is expected in August.

Preparation work began for the new business park last year when the then Highways Agency carried out work on the Mile End roundabout in the summer.

Councillor Barrow said he was pleased to see the roundabout improvements which cost £4 million. He said: "I persuaded the Highways Agency to do it because it put a fifth spur onto the roundabout giving access onto 30 hectares of land the council owns. Before we could not get onto it. It is big enough to put businesses on to create up to 3,000 new jobs. Lots of companies have already contacted us, it is phenomenal."

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson also welcomed the development.

"It's a great idea that will bring new jobs to the area," he said. "Anything that will bring new businesses to Oswestry and keep them in Oswestry must be encouraged."

Construction of the first phase of the business park development is scheduled to start over the next year, subject to funding.

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