Still no decision on future of Shrewsbury's Gay Meadow

Developers today said they were still "considering options" for the site of Gay Meadow, Shrewsbury Town's old football ground, almost a year after they revealed multi-million pound homes plans had been shelved.

And Barratt Mercia today said it was hopeful the situation would be resolved "soon". The future of the site is still up in the air, after plans were shelved as the UK's financial crisis was reaching its peak.

It is not known whether a housing development is still being considered or whether another scheme could be put forward.

Plans had been approved for up to 173 homes to be built on the old riverside site, which has been lying undeveloped since Shrewsbury Town moved to their new home in Oteley Road in 2007.

But last August Barratt Homes, which took over the site from Barratt Chester, said the plans had been put on hold because they were "not viable" due to depreciation in market values and the recession.

Options

Earlier this year the firm said the project remained on hold but today it said it was hopeful the situation could soon be resolved.

Jon Rowson, planning manager at Barratt Mercia, said: "We are currently considering options for development at the Gay Meadow site and hope to have a resolution soon."

Plans to build an extra 17 apartments at the ground were given the final go-ahead by council bosses in November, 2008.

There was already consent for 156 homes including 112 open-market properties and 44 affordable units.

The old Gay Meadow on the banks of the River Severn opened in August 1910 and was the football club's home until it closed in June 2007, at the end of the 2006/7 Football League season.

Peter Bettis, chairman of Shrewsbury Business Chamber, said he hoped something would be done soon. He said: "We're looking forward to a positive outcome in the very near future."

Mr Bettis said he hoped that if and when work did start it would provide local employment.

By John Kirk