Talks start on homes bid for old Shropshire army site
A former army training site could be transformed into a development of nearly 40 homes after more than 50 years of standing empty.
The Stoke Heath Ministry of Defence Training Camp, in Warrant Road near Market Drayton, has been earmarked for a development that could see it turned in to 38 homes.
The plans have been put forward to Shropshire Council and come decades after the site closed following the Second World War.
Agents on behalf of applicants TAFS (Salop) Limited said: "This disused and derelict property constitutes a major developed site that currently has a detrimental impact upon the character and setting of the area.
"It has been considered for war-gaming and as a potential gipsy site, but neither use or activity finds favour with the local community. The local community want to see the site remediated and put to a beneficial use that is compatible with the residential surroundings. Residential development is the only viable, favoured use."
The plans put forward a scheme for up to 38 houses to include six affordable homes, open public space and also a possible area to provide a new habitat for two resident barn owls.
The scheme could also see a package sewage treatment plant for the new development.
The agent added: "It is understood that the Ministry of Defence commissioned the site as a training camp shortly after the Second World War, but that it closed in the mid-1950s and then remained largely disused for many years, during which time it became derelict.
"The development will regenerate and bring back into beneficial use a large, derelict, brownfield site.
"It will generate investment in the local economy and it will deliver sustainable new homes to meet the identified housing needs of the area."
Developers said the scheme has been supported by the "local community at Stoke Heath" who are in favour of seeing the disused site regenerated.
So far, there are no comments of support or objection to the plans on Shropshire Council's website. Stoke-upon-Tern Parish Council has announced the plans will be available to view at its next meeting on Wednesday. The scheme will be up for discussion and councillors will decide whether to support the proposal.
The meeting will start at 7pm in the village hall. People can comment on the proposals on the Shropshire Council website.
