Muller land offer to help Market Drayton homes target
Market Drayton-based dairy giant Muller has offered the town a piece of land to help meet a target of building 1,200 houses by 2026.
Market Drayton Town Council has received a letter on behalf of the company for land north of Shrewsbury Road.
It is not yet known how many or what type of homes would be built on the site, which is slightly bigger than a football pitch.
But councillors have asked whether people would want to buy homes so near to the business giant.
Under Shropshire Council's SAMDev planning blueprint, Market Drayton has been set a target of opening up new sites for homes to guide development until 2026.
A letter to the town council on behalf of Muller Dairy said the 0.65 hectare (6,500 square metre) site was bought in 1998.
It is part of a large parcel of land which has since been developed as a staff car park.
Muller said it kept the land in case it needed to expand the car park.
"However, following the grant of planning permission for a new manufacturing and distribution facility to the north of the A53, Muller has concluded that there is no further requirement to safeguard this land," the letter said.
It added: "Moreover, due to the size and remote location it will not be developed in association with their existing operation. Consideration has therefore been given to other viable alternative sites. We have made contact with Shropshire Council and their planning officers have advised that in principle the use of the site for residential purposes could be supported.
"In reaching this conclusion officers have regard to the requirement within the SAMDev Plan for Market Drayton to provide approximately 1,200 dwellings for the period until 2026, including an allowance of approximately 260 dwellings on windfall sites."
Councillor Steve Glover, mayor of Market Drayton, said: "I can't see houses being built there. Who would want to live near a great big factory?"
But Councillor Janet Smith said: "I don't have a problem with this. Anybody moving into a property will know the factory is there. They will know what they are moving into."
Shropshire Council did not wish to comment.
