Shropshire MP puts forward country barracks site for new Jaguar Land Rover factory
Shropshire's Tern Hill Barracks, which has been put on the market, could be used as a new base for Jaguar Land Rover, Shropshire MP Owen Paterson has suggested.
Mr Paterson has put forward the barracks, near Market Drayton, as a possible location for the company, which has said it will open a new site in the West Midlands.
The North Shropshire MP has written to Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, calling for the site at Clive to be put forward as a potential county base for the company's electric car project.
JLR already makes its engines near Wolverhampton and has said it wants to create 10,000 jobs by making electric cars and batteries in the West Midlands.
Mr Paterson has said JLR should turn its eyes to the north of the county, saying the barracks, which have been put up for sale by the Ministry of Defence, could be its new home.
He said that he has written to the Mr Clark to suggest the site.
Mr Paterson added: "We're open minded. I have been to Hampshire where a site is being turned into a new town which would put an end to the endless little developments.
"Everyone I have spoken to in Market Drayton is open to attracting new businesses, as Muller has been a huge success."
"It is not far from Crewe, it is not far from Stafford, it is not far from regional airports, there are three airports within striking distance.
"It is worth a shot."
Both Oswestry and Telford have already been put forward as potential homes for the base.
The MoD, which revealed the site in Tern Hill will close by 2020 and has the potential to provide land for up to 600 houses, has said the money from the sales will be ploughed back into defence spending.
It comes after it was announced that a task force, set up by the MP, would visit the barracks as part of a fact-finding mission.
Mr Paterson said they were keen to go to similar sites to learn lessons about what could be done with the site and that it was important for the parish council, Shropshire Council and the town council to keep working together on the project.
The visit had been arranged after the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, which is currently based there, set off on its latest tour to Afghanistan.
It is not yet known where the battalion will relocate to when the barracks closes.
