150 homes bid as Shrewsbury's Caterpillar site eyes growth
One of Shrewsbury's largest firms has applied for planning permission to build 150 houses on part of its site deemed "surplus" land.
Caterpillar, which employs about 300 people at its Lancaster Road site, said the proposal would fund investments in the site which ensure it is "a state of the art facility for at least the next 10 to 15 years".
A planning application submitted to Shropshire Council requests permission to build on a 10.65 acre portion of the current 30.13 acre site, and to demolish a building described as surplus.
Included in the bid are 150 homes, as well as a number of improvements to the business, including a 275-space car park, a new auditorium and reception, as well as remodelled offices.
Shropshire Council's economic development team has backed the scheme, saying it will "secure the future for the company in Shrewsbury".
A statement from the department said: "The economic growth team supports the proposals which act as enabling development to fund the rationalisation and remodelling of existing operations on site and the associated investment.
"They will secure a future for the company in Shrewsbury, which has been selected as the centre of Caterpillar's remanufacturing operations in Europe and safeguard existing highly skilled jobs.
"The additional investment will also boost and secure continued support to the local supply chain."
But the plans have attracted criticism from nearby residents, including the mayor of Shrewsbury Councillor Ioan Jones, over concerns about the impact of extra traffic.
He said: "Myself and a number of residents raised issues at a local consultation over traffic and unfortunately it does not seem these concerns have been taken on board at all."
Councillor Jones said he believed the development, which will include access roads on to Mount Pleasant and Lancaster Road, would have a "major impact" on local traffic.
