‘Take RAF Cosford out of green belt’ call by MoD

In a letter to Shropshire Council, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, which is responsible for the MoD’s land and buildings, has asked for the green belt status to be lifted from the RAF site.

The submission, which was put together as part of Shropshire Council’s local plan review, described Cosford as a “core defence site”.

But it says its potential to meet future operational defence requirements is “restricted by its green belt location”.

Responding to questions about the suggestion, the ministry today said that there were no specific expansion plans for the base.

But the lifting of green belt designation would allow development in the future.

Green belt is a designation given to land to protect undeveloped, wild, and agricultural countryside areas.

Shropshire Council says that, as part of its local plan review that will set areas of the county for housing, industrial and commercial development, it would consider making green belt land available to support “long term sustainability”.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation letter states: “It is noted that reference is made within the preferred development strategy to potential release of green belt land.

“RAF Cosford is a core defence site, but its potential to meet future operational defence requirements is restricted by its green belt location.

“The MoD considers that there is a case to be made for RAF Cosford to be removed from the green belt and would request that the council considers this option as part of the green belt review.”