Benthall Grange Ironbridge

The former Ironbridge Power Station forms the largest single redevelopment site in Shropshire. Its 142-hectare site, located on the border of neighbouring Telford at the heart of Shropshire, is in a rural environment with good road and rail connectivity to the Black Country and the wider West Midlands region.

Harworth Group plc had full planning approval granted in September 2022 from both Shropshire Council and Telford and Wrekin, which is subject to agreements. The Group also obtained planning consent in September 2022 to extract up to 1.9 million tonnes of sand and gravel to Shropshire Council.

The outline planning permission includes plans for 1,000 homes; a retirement village; a new local centre to contain a mix of leisure, commercial, retail and health uses; a primary school; nature corridors; public open space, and the re-use of the site’s pumphouse to support either retail, community or river-based uses.

This site’s planning permission includes for circa 16,000m² of commercial space alongside 2,200m² of retail provision.

The application is supported by a number of key documents which explain how the plan has been arrived at, including a detailed Design and Access Statement which has been incorporated into a site-wide Design Code; a full Transport Assessment, and a series of environmental plans including flood risk and ecological assessments.

The application follows eighteen months of detailed consideration, including two public consultations held on-site in 2018 and 2019 which attracted nearly 1,000 people in total, establishing a detailed understanding of the site’s assets and constraints and considering the site’s role in supporting lronbridge’s leisure and tourism offer.

Why invest in Shropshire?

Prime location
Shropshire boasts a strategic location at the geographical heart of the UK, providing seamless access to key markets including the West Midlands, the North, Mid Wales and Ireland. With excellent road and rail connections, major cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and London are within easy reach.

Business-friendly environment
The county is dedicated to fostering growth and attracting inward investment, offering a supportive and progressive business environment. Numerous initiatives and support programmes are available to assist businesses in their establishment and expansion. Shropshire is also highly competitive when it comes to property and labour costs, making it an attractive destination for new businesses.

Diverse and thriving sectors
Shropshire is home to a diverse range of thriving industries, from advanced manufacturing and agri-tech to the creative industries and food and drink. Many businesses here operate on a global scale or lead their respective markets.

Future-focused growth
Shropshire is committed to future growth, with emerging sectors such as health/medical tech and environmental technologies. Alongside its ambitious partners, the county aims to become a leader in the green economy.

Quality of life
In an evolving business landscape, Shropshire attracts an increasing number of business owners, creatives and entrepreneurs. It’s an area rich in natural beauty offering a desirable blend of town and rural living, with employees valuing the exceptional quality of life and work-life balance. Affordable housing, excellent educational resources and a wealth of historical, cultural and leisure opportunities contribute to Shropshire’s unparalleled lifestyle.

Take the next step
Shropshire is quirky, innovative, independent and inviting. It has the potential to exceed your expectations. Isn’t it time you took a closer look?

The Invest in Shropshire team is eager to discuss opportunities with you.

Visit us at www.investinshropshire.co.uk

Insight for investors

• Type of investment sought: Future delivery and investment
• Value and cost info: £250m + GDV
• Site size: 142 hectares
• Jobs: 4,520 new jobs
• Timescale: 2022-2036
• Delivery timescale: 1-5 years
• Planning status: Outline planning approval granted in September 2022