4,000 homes and giant business site plan returns for West Midlands green belt

A country estate looking to build thousands of homes on Shropshire green belt has been contacting residents over its refreshed plans.

In recent days the Bradford Estates, based at Weston-under-Lizard, has been sending out communications regarding its updated proposals for what would be Shropshire’s largest new development - called ‘Weston’.

The scheme, proposed for land to the north of Junction 3 of the M54 and west of the village of Tong, is the latest iteration of plans that date back to at least 2018.

The Bradford Estates has issued a statement detailing the fresh ambitions for the scheme, saying it would include around 4,000 homes and create 8,000 jobs.

It has also highlighted its proximity to the M54 corridor, one of the county’s key economic locations.

A website set up to showcase the scheme highlights other elements including primary schools, nurseries, a GP surgery, and a ‘village centre with shops’, and says the plan is for five million square feet of new employment space.

The statement said: “Bradford Estates is in the early stages of crafting a refreshed vision for Weston, a new self-sustaining village and economic gateway at Junction 3 of the M54, with the potential to deliver around 4,000 homes and create 8,000 high-quality jobs.

“It is designed as a place where people can live, work and build their futures in Shropshire.

“Shropshire Council has confirmed that the M54 Growth Corridor is essential to Shropshire’s future growth and prosperity. At the heart of this corridor, Weston occupies one of the most strategically important locations in the county.

“As a family-owned estate with over 1,000 years of history in the area, Bradford Estates believes that proposals for Weston must be ‘rooted in Shropshire, grown by its community and built for the future’.

“To that end, Bradford Estates wants the people who know the area best to shape it from the outset. That’s why local groups and community organisations have been invited to share their local knowledge and expertise at a series of workshops.”

It added: “The emerging vision for Weston would see homes and livelihoods built together in one connected, self-sustaining place. Weston Village would provide around 4,000 homes for people at every stage of life, with its own primary schools, nurseries, GP surgery and village shops, planned so that everyday needs are within a 20-minute walk.

“Weston Gateway would provide around 5 million sq ft of modern, flexible employment space and create 8,000 well-paid jobs for local people. Weston Gateway represents a unique opportunity to create Shropshire's own centre of gravity for jobs, skills and training, attracting high-quality employers and helping to retain local talent in the county.”

The statement also points to the concept of a “self sustaining” development, designed so that it does not add to the strain on infrastructure experienced in other nearby towns, such as Shifnal.

It said: “By delivering services and amenities on site, Weston is a unique proposition for a self-sustaining community, supported by career pathways and job opportunities on the doorstep. By meeting the needs of its own community as it grows, Weston can help to ease pressure on the services and infrastructure of nearby towns that are already under strain.”

The Bradford Estates’ ambitions for the area date back some time and were publicly confirmed in 2018, with talk of the potential for “a series of interlinked garden villages” and early estimates describing the possibility of building up to 10,000 homes over a number of years.

The site was not included in Shropshire Council’s failed Local Plan, which was ultimately withdrawn last year.

During the Local Plan process lawyers acting for the Bradford Estates threatened to seek a Judicial Review if Shropshire Council did not amend its proposals.

But recent days have seen fresh developments in the plan with residents in the area surrounding the proposed land receiving letters from Alexander and Eliza, Viscount and Viscountess of Newport, about the scheme.

They state: “As you may be aware, Weston is a proposed new village and economic gateway planned together at Junction 3 of the M54.”

The letter describes the vision for the development being at an “early stage”, and requests the chance to sit down and discuss the plans.

The site for the development has already been submitted to Shropshire Council for inclusion in its forthcoming local plan.

The developments come as a planning inspector considers proposals for 800 homes in nearby Albrighton, with a final decision to be taken by Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, while neighbouring Shifnal remains a major target for significant housing developments.