£45 million Oswestry Innovation Park gets backing of town council

Mayor Councillor Duncan Kerr hailed the “significant” economic boost the new business park near Mile End roundabout will bring as councillors voted unanimously to support the development.

He also suggested that the park could evolve around a theme such as health, building on the work of the nearby Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Gobowen.

The project, which has been in the pipeline for many years, could see up to 1,300 jobs created by the time all units are built and occupied, according to planning application lodged with Shropshire Council last month.

The plans will be back up for discussion at a meeting of Oswestry Rural Parish Council, in whose boundaries the site lies, this evening.

Speaking at a meeting of Oswestry Town Council’s planning committee on Monday, Councillor Kerr said: “I think we should certainly welcome this. It’s a significant day for Oswestry.

“It’s a significant proposal that will have considerable additional jobs for the town.

“We can say that it might be hoped that as it goes forward it can develop into perhaps more of a thematic industrial park – perhaps trying to pick up on the world-renowned hospital we have in Gobowen and offer medical places of employment and provision and equipment, or maybe in some other particular theme.

Asset

“But anyway it’s a wonderful asset to have available to us and we welcome it.

“We’ve now got a sustainable bridge to it which is good as well, so I think we should wholeheartedly approve and welcome it.”

Councillor Peter Cherrington seconded the mayor’s proposal, adding: “I totally agree. It’s been a long time coming and it’s going to be beneficial to the town.”

Members unanimously agreed to support the application.

If approved by its own planning department, Shropshire Council says work could start as early as this year on the first phase of construction.

A hotel and 21 business units of varying sizes are proposed under the planning application, which seeks full permission for phase one and outline permission for the rest of the development.

The park will be accessed via a new secondary roundabout currently under construction next to Mile End. A new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the A5 to provide car-free access between the site and the town centre was also approved earlier this year.

A statement by the council’s agent, WSP, says the development will “deliver significant economic and regenerative benefits for Shropshire and the West Midlands region”.