PLANS are afoot to expand an Oswestry industrial estate.

Evans Enterprises Ltd wants to expand Artillery Business Park onto agricultural land north of Whittington Road, Oswestry.

Planning agents Berrys said in a statement that the company has made the outline application because of "continued success and demand for employment accommodation".

It added: "The application is submitted in outline, with access, to obtain a degree of certainty over the development potential of the site and enable its marketing. Until occupiers of the development on the site are identified, and their accommodation requirements established, detailed plans for buildings on the site cannot be drawn up."

The statement added that by providing premises for new and existing business, the development would stimulate job opportunities.

It added: "The application proposes the change of use of agricultural land to employment uses.

The proposal will therefore result in the loss of a greenfield site.

But the statement said: "Nonetheless, the proposed development site is located in Oswestry, one of the largest settlements in Shropshire, and is therefore in close proximity to the labour force and to existing businesses that will provide services and facilities to the site.

"The site is also located on the strategic road network, providing ease of access to the rest of the region. The site is therefore considered to be a highly sustainable location for the proposed development as it will limit the need to travel and offer a genuine choice of transport modes, helping to reduce congestion and emissions.."