Tern Hill Barracks site is 'perfect' for JLR, says MP Owen Paterson
A Shropshire army barracks would be the perfect home for Jaguar Land Rover's electric car project, an MP said today.
MP Owen Paterson previously put forward Tern Hill Barracks, near Market Drayton, as a possible location for the company, which has said it will open a new site in the West Midlands.
He today said he had now received a 'friendly' reply from Jaguar and has sent off more information about the site.
The MoD plans to close the site by 2022 and says it could provide up to 600 houses.
JLR already makes its engines at the i54 plant alongside the M54. It says it wants to create 10,000 jobs by making electric cars and batteries in the region.
Mr Paterson said JLR should turn its eyes to the north of the county, saying the barracks, which has been put up for sale by the Ministry of Defence, could be its new home.
Following a visit to the barracks yesterday, Mr Paterson said: "It is a huge site and what struck me most was how spaced out all the buildings were. There are masses of space between them.
"It is very sad that the Royal Irish will be leaving but we cannot fight it.
"I wrote to Jaguar Land Rover last year and have now received a friendly reply.
"It is looking for a new site for a factory to make electric cars and I think Tern Hill would be perfect."
