A SEARCH for possible unexploded shells and ammunition will be carried out before houses are built on an unwanted chunk of land at Rockware Glass.
Rockware’s owners, the Ardagh Group, want to turn part of the Monk Bretton plant into a 350 dwelling residential development.
Project managers have said there could be unexploded ‘ordnance’ buried on the Burton Road site, used as a tank factory in the Second World War.
An environmental report submitted to the council by Ardagh recommended that an ordnance survey should be ordered for safety reasons before any work commences.
Planning officers have also been told by Ardagh that the brownbelt land may be contaminated and there is a moderate risk for future users.
Ardagh this week put in a request for outline planning permission to build 144 semi detached houses, 160 apartments, 33 town houses and 13 detached homes there.
The development would include two public open space areas with ponds, a skate ramp and children’s play area.
If permission is granted construction will be staggered into three phases and an ‘acoustic’ fence will be put between the homes and the plant to block out noise.
An Ardagh report stated: “As part of a wider strategy to support and enhance the glassworks outline planning permission is sought for the residential development. The remainder of Rockware glassworks will remain unaffected by these disposal and development proposals.”
