MoD Donnington defence hub decision due this month

Plans aimed at putting Telford in the best possible position to attract the Ministry of Defence's logistics operation were given the go ahead earlier last year.

Russell Griffin, spokesman for Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "We don't know exactly but we are expecting (the decision) later this month."

The council's planning committee unanimously approved an application for the expansion of the MoD Donnington site.

This included a 675,000 sq ft fulfilment centre, a 200,000 sq ft warehouse and a 30,000 sq ft three-storey office building.

The council's aim was to persuade the MoD to make Donnington a main centre for the National Defence Logistics Gateway and the planning permission was deemed necessary to make sure Telford gets the go ahead.

If the Telford bid is successful, it will help protect 750 jobs at Donnington and may also attract up to 450 new jobs to the borough.

Speaking ahead of the logistics operation announcement, Councillor Bill McClements, member for finance and enterprise, said: "We know there are absolutely no guarantees of success but the potential rewards for the borough are huge.

This would safeguard jobs, create opportunities for new ones and raise Telford's profile."

Hundreds of Ministry of Defence workers in Shropshire took to the picket lines in recent weeks as part of strike action in a dispute over pay.