Power station site plans ‘exciting’
Future prospects for the former Ironbridge Power Station site are exciting, the leader of Shropshire Council has said.
It could provide a base for businesses and hundreds of homes.
Exciting
Leader of Shropshire Council, Peter Nutting, told yesterday’s cabinet meeting that there are “all sorts of exciting opportunities” for the former power station site. He said the major development schemes could also lead to high quality job opportunities.
Councillor Roger Evans, who represents the Longden ward, told the meeting he wanted to see high-paid jobs for residents of Shropshire. In October last year, Harworth, the owner of Ironbridge Power Station, unveiled plans for the long-term redevelopment of the site. They included hundreds of homes, potential retirement living and a holiday village.
Other suggestions included a park and ride, business hub, art gallery and farmers’ market.
Expected
Demolition of the power station – including its iconic cooling towers – is expected to take place over the next three years.
The full project will be finished within 10 to 15 years. The MoD submitted a proposal to Shropshire Council welcoming Clive Barracks’ inclusion on the authority’s list of strategic sites as a mixed use, brownfield site. During yesterday’s meeting, concerns were also raised over some of the plans for the three sites, especially those involving green belt land.
Concerns
Councillor Kevin Turley, who represents Shifnal North, said he could not support the plans. He said: “I can’t support this going forward. Whilst it’s not my patch I have grave concerns about the great big swathes of green belt.
“We need to be looking more at our brownfield sites.” He said he predicted there would be legal challenges ahead if the plans progressed further.
