Shropshire Star

Traffic worries over 150 homes plan next to Shrewsbury's Caterpillar factory

Highways officials fear a housing development next to a factory could cause traffic problems on nearby roads.

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Consultants working for Shropshire Council said a bid by Caterpillar to build 150 homes on land it no longer needs at its Lancaster Road site, in Shrewsbury, should "not be approved at this time".

Mouchel, which has carried out a review of the potential impact on Lancaster Road and Mount Pleasant Road, in a report, says: "

The applicant has failed to demonstrate the proposed residential development, together with the retained use of the manufacturing business, using the same access facilities, is acceptable without introducing significant detriment to the adjacent local highway network."

Mouchel has also called for the main entrance on Lancaster Road to be reconsidered. The report adds: "The proposed mix of commercial traffic, residential traffic and pedestrians may also have potential risks, particularly at peak times when there may be many different movements happening altogether in differing directions."

Further concerns about the proposals have been raised by mayor ofShrewsbury Councillor Ioan Jones.

Caterpillar, which employs about 300 people at the site, said the proposal would fund investments which ensure it is "a state of the art facility for at least the next 10 to 15 years".

Also included in the bid are a number of improvements to the business, such as a 275-space car park. Shropshire Council's economic development team has backed the scheme, saying it will secure the future of Caterpillar in Shrewsbury.

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