1,000 jobs planned for Shrewsbury Business Park

About 1,000 jobs are set to be created in Shrewsbury over the next five years under plans to expand one of the town's biggest enterprise parks.

Bosses behind the Shrewsbury Business Park, near Emstrey, are currently busy at work on a 'masterplan' for the next phase of the popular site which will involve building a major extension next to Wenlock Road.

The park has already generated about £20 million of investment and created major employment since it was built and bosses at Shropshire Council are now preparing the next phase of work which is set to create another 1,000 jobs.

It comes after plans were unveiled for a multi-million pound building designed by DGA architects and to be built by Redstart Construction Ltd which will also help transform the site.

Alan Hay, managing director of Alaska Developments which has developed the site, today said: "Phase One of the business park was developed over a period of about seven or eight years but most of the development took place in the last three years with the creation of almost 200,000 sq ft of business premises and over 1,000 jobs.

"Although some buildings on Phase Two have already been constructed, we are now working with Shropshire Council to prepare a masterplan for the remainder of the phase.

"The developments envisaged will be predominantly offices, although we hope to be able to provide ancillary uses such as catering facilities which is something which is needed for current and future occupiers of the park.

"I expect Phase Two to be developed over the next five years and will, on completion, provide further employment for 1,000 people and of course land revenue for the council."

Mr Hay said he believed the plans were also an "opportunity" for companies to deliver new buildings for pension purposes.

A report to next week's meeting of a Shropshire Council watchdog says Phase Two will involve six hectares of land for development and says three new offices have already been built.

It says: "A masterplan is currently under preparation for the Phase Two extension adjacent to Wenlock Road.

"A planning application has recently been submitted for a 'landmark building' fronting Emstrey Island. It is also proposed to develop Phase Three on Thieves Lane."