300 homes plan in Craven Arms abattoir move

Craven Arms's abattoir is set to be moved as part of a major regeneration project that would revive the town centre and bring in more than 300 homes.

The Euro Quality Lambs abattoir will be moved to Newington Farm, to the north of the town, while shops have been proposed for its Corvedale Road site. Up to 75 homes will be built on sites off Watling Street and Clun Road.

Other sites will be found to ensure that up to 318 homes are built by 2026.

Long Lane Industrial Estate will also be expanded.

The proposals have been unveiled in Shropshire Council's Site Allocations and Management of Development (SAMDev) plan for the town.

In total 500 homes will have been built in the town between 2006 and 2026. Seventy-two have already built and planning permission has been granted for a further 110.

People living in the town are being urged to attend a public meeting on June 14 to discuss the plans as part of the consultation process.

Clive Leworthy, chairman of Craven Arms Town Council, said: "The abattoir is on a very old site and people in the town would like to see the area redeveloped. I think the ideas will go down very well in Craven Arms.

"It would mean the abattoir could move to purpose-built premises and it could possibly create more employment opportunities in the town. In total up to 500 homes could be built in the town and that would bring money into the town through the Community Infrastructure Levy.

"We would encourage as many people as possible to come to the public meeting on June 14 to have their say over the plans."

To see the plans in detail visit www.shropshire.gov.uk

By Peter Kitchen