Revised plans for Shropshire homes and business park

The plans, for green belt land near Tong, involve nearly 3,000 new homes

Fresh plans for thousands of homes and a business park on green belt land off the M54 have been revealed.

Bradford Estates wants to build 2,900 homes plus a "Midlands Tech Park" near junction three for Tong, Shropshire.

The developer's previous plans for the site were not adopted by the county's local plan.

The area's MP, Mark Pritchard, said the latest proposals were "in the wrong location" and "unacceptable for the local community".

Alexander Newport from Bradford Estates said the company wanted to make a "meaningful contribution to the economic and social development of the area".

The tech park would be a large, mixed-use employment area to be built alongside the proposed new properties, a medical centre, school, nursery, shops and community buildings.

A "Science and Innovation Campus" is also envisaged.

Bradford Estates said it would use renewable energy and sustainable technologies to become the "first net zero carbon settlements in the UK".

About 500 hectares of private farmland would also be turned into publicly accessible green space.

'Enough new development'

In December 2020, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said the previous proposals from Bradford Estates for 3,000 homes, schools and employment land had not been included in the county's local plan, after Shropshire Council ruled it could not justify the release of the green belt land.

A fortnight-long examination of the Local Plan. has begun at Shrewsbury Town Football Club., where a protest took place earlier.

The developer said the latest proposals followed feedback "from a range of different stakeholders over the last three years".

Mr Newport said: "We look forward to continuing to work with local residents, businesses and the council, and are always keen to speak to those who want to find out more about our plans."

The proposals have faced opposition from the community and, responding to the latest plans, Wrekin MP Mr Pritchard said: "These proposals are still in the wrong location and of a scale that is just unacceptable for the local community and local parish councils.

"There is enough new development in Albrighton and Shifnal as it is. I do not support the revised plans".

The proposals are subject to formal allocation as a strategic settlement and also planning permission.