Radio Features

People living near the Ditherington Road site which has permission for more than 250 homes want to see work on the area started. The developers say they are currently reviewing their operations and hope to begin work before the end of 2009.

Sarah Evans who lives opposite said it was a dismal sight: "You just see a mess. Bricks everywhere, dirt everywhere; the fences are always being blown over; get kicked over."

Ms Evans said the site had been flooded during last winter's heavy rains and pumps used to clear the water made a lot of noise and dirt.

Richard Lawrence of Shropshire Council is in charge of a government initiative called 'The Growth Point' which aims to enable new housing and job opportunities as well new infrastructure: "This site here is one of our key sites. It's certainly one of the largest building sites currently in Shrewsbury and what we really want to do is get it developed."

The deserted site of The Shires

He said the area which includes the Flaxmill is part of the Northern Corridor and was a priority area in the town: " We are working with the developers and we are also working with the Homes and Communities Agency to see if we can use this as a potential Kick Start site."

Kick Start is a government scheme which helps develop sites where planning permission has been granted but the actual work has stalled: We'll go back to Persimmons and  say there is a way that we can get together to get this site developed."

Mr Lawrence said the project was being treated as a priority: " It's a very frustrating situation. We know there is an inherent demand for housing in Shrewsbury. It's a case of really getting the developers to realise there is a demand.

"There is help out there and that we all want to get this site moving as quickly as possible."