Office plan for former scrap yard near Tenbury

A former vehicle scrap yard in south Shropshire could become a new office for a private hire taxi firm under plans submitted to Shropshire Council.

If approved, the plan lodged by applicant Ian Elliott would see a new two storey office building erected on a brownfield site near Tenbury Wells, with parking for ten vehicles.

A previous application for office accomodation on the 2,450 square metre site on Boraston Bank was approved in 2005 by South Shropshire District Council but despite electrical and groundwork getting underway some five years later in 2010, the development failed to progress.

In a supporting statement, the architects behind the plans said the new building would amend the original scheme into a “simpler, more agricultural looking building” which was more in-keeping with its rural setting.

“The layout of the building offers two large open plan office spaces at ground and first floor with full height windows ensuring natural light and views across the south/west of the site are maximised,” said a supporting statement by architects Orme Ltd.

“The proposal also accommodates a private meeting room at first floor with appropriate kitchen, bathroom and plant facilities on the ground.

“The new office facility also allows for 20sqm of external covered area- offering the users of the office an outdoor space to reconnect with their environment.

“The proposal will create a bright, spacious, high-quality office space with great connections to the outdoors.”

The plans also include planting of a wildflower meadow to increase biodiversity levels on the site, with two charging points for electric vehicles provided as part of the ten allocated spaces.

The work undertaken at the site in October 2010 saw around 9,000 tonnes of hardcore brought onto the site to adjust levels leaving onto the road, and mains electrical connections terminated in a small brick structure.

Following an application from the current owner in 2021, Shropshire Council decided this was sufficient to declare the development as having got underway prior to permission expiring for the site.

A decision on the amended scheme will be made by Shropshire Council’s planning department in due course.