Development of Clive Barracks in the spotlight

Councillor Malcolm Price, the authority's cabinet member for planning, has revealed the council has begun discussions with the owners of three major development sites in the county with the aim of drafting "master plans" for the future.

The sites are Clive Barracks at Tern Hill, near Market Drayton, Copthorne Barracks in Shrewsbury and Ironbridge Power Station. Councillor Price has said any developments need to be mixed use and must be "sustainable".

He said: "The easy avenue for those sites would be just to go for housing which is not appropriate. We need to look at employment and other uses for the sites."

The Ministry of Defence, which owns Clive Barracks, confirmed it is in discussions with the council.

The Tern Hill barracks are being sold as part of an MoD drive to generate more money, and help the Government provide land for 7,000 homes. It has been anticipated that up to 600 homes could be built at the site, which is currently home to the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment.

Councillor Steve Charmley, who represents Whittington and is the cabinet member responsible for business and the economy, said he had been impressed with the MoD's willingness to discuss future options for the site. He said: "What we have put to them is that in Tern Hill it is not really within any development boundary, the last thing we want is a new village springing up in the middle of nowhere when it could be so much more.

"What we have agreed to kick off with is a look at the services going into the site like broadband, to see if any upgrade would be needed for those. What was really, really refreshing from the MoD was they said 'nothing is off the table, we want to work with the authority and understand what the issues are to improve it'."