We are seeking views of all parties with an interest in the preferred strategic sites and/or other potential strategic site, so that relevant views and evidence can be taken into account in deciding the best way forward. Select the 'Get involved' tab to find out how to complete and submit your ‘Strategic Sites’ Consultation Questionnaire.
Purpose of the Local Plan Review
Local Planning Authorities are required to keep under review any matters that may affect the development of its area. Shropshire Council has determined to undertake a Local Plan Review in order to:
- Allow the consideration of updated information on development needs within the County;
- Reflect changes to national policy and our local strategies;
- Extend the Plan period to 2036; and
- To provide a plan which will help to support growth and maintain local control over planning decisions during the period to 2036.
Maintaining an up to date Local Plan will support local growth by generating certainty for investment in local development and infrastructure. The Local Plan will achieve this by providing a policy framework that establishes an up to date and objective assessment of development needs and supports sustainable development in Shropshire during the period to 2036.
Progress on the Local Plan Review
There have been three previous stages of consultation on the Local Plan Review:
Issues and Strategic Options
The Issues and Strategic Options Consultation occurred between Monday 23rd January 2017 and Monday 20th March 2017. This consultation sought views from all parties on the key issues and strategic options for the Local Plan Review; it covered the following strategic options:
- Housing requirement;
- Strategic distribution of future growth;
- Strategies for employment growth; and
- Delivering development in rural settlements.
During the Issues and Strategic Options Consultation, a total of 412 respondents commented. Respondents included individuals; businesses; landowners; Town and Parish Councils; representatives of the development industry; organisations; neighbouring Authorities; and statutory consultees.
Preferred Scale and Distribution of Development
The Preferred Scale and Distribution of Development Consultation occurred between Friday 27th October and Friday 22nd December 2017. This consultation sought views from all parties on the preferred scale and distribution of development for the Local Plan Review which:
- Set out the preferred scale of housing and employment development in Shropshire 2016-36;
- Set out the preferred distribution of this growth;
- Identified housing and employment growth guidelines for the Strategic Centre and each Principal and Key Centre;
- Confirmed the methodology which Shropshire Council proposes to adopt to identify a settlement hierarchy in Shropshire;
- Listed the settlements which form part of this hierarchy, including those that will, in future, be identified as Community Hubs and those that will be maintained as Community Clusters;
- Proposed draft policies for the management of development within Community Hubs and Community Clusters; and
- Identified other development requirements which may need to be addressed as part of the Local Plan Review.
During the Preferred Scale and Distribution of Development Consultation, a total of 591 respondents commented. Respondents included individuals; businesses; landowners; Town and Parish Councils; representatives of the development industry; organisations; neighbouring Authorities; and statutory consultees.
Preferred Sites
The Preferred Sites Consultation occurred between Thursday 29th November 2018 and Friday 8th February 2019. The consultation sought views of all parties. The consultation document:
- Outlined a housing policy direction to improve the delivery of local housing needs;
- Established development guidelines and development boundaries for Shrewsbury, the Principal and Key Centres and each proposed Community Hub and;
- Set out the preferred sites to deliver the preferred scale and distribution of housing and employment growth during the period 2016 to 2036.
During the Preferred sites Consultation, more than 3,600 unique respondents commented. These included local residents, businesses, town and parish councils, neighbouring local authorities, statutory consultees and a range of other organisations.
Consultation plan
A consultation plan has been produced to inform this consultation, it is available using this link.
The ‘Strategic Sites’ Consultation will run from Monday 1st July 2019 to Monday 9th September 2019.
The consultation will be undertaken in line with the standards set out in the Council’s published Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) and national guidance. Consultation documents will be available on the Shropshire Council website, and paper copies may be viewed at Shropshire Libraries and the main Shropshire Council Offices during their respective opening hours.
A significant number of organisations and individuals (there are approximately 4,000 contacts) made up of local and national organisations, individuals, parish and town councils, adjoining authorities (including adjoining parish and town councils), statutory bodies (such as the Environment Agency), agents and developers, interest groups, and anyone who has asked to be consulted, will be notified directly of the publication of the consultation documents by email in accordance with the SCI.
The Council will also inform Shropshire’s Parish and Town Councils via the Association for Local Councils (ALC).
The consultation plan identifies those meetings which will be attended by Shropshire Council Planning Policy Officers. Where resources permit, the Planning Policy Officers may hold further meetings at the Shirehall, Shrewsbury with representatives of Parish or Town Councils to discuss in more detail, particular consultation proposals of interest to their community.
Consultation events
In using limited resources effectively, we will hold three public meetings to promote the ‘Strategic Sites’ Consultation:
Please see below for copies of the presentations given at these events.
Please note: the purpose of these presentations was to raise matters of principle for consideration by the local community and their elected representatives and to direct attention to the consultation documents and evidence base available on the Council website. The presentations do not form part of the evidence for the Local Plan review and do not represent an authoritative statement of the Council's preferred strategy.
More information on the Strategic Sites Consultation is available within the Preferred Sites Consultation Document. You may also wish to refer to the evidence base which has helped to inform the Council’s proposals.
Event: RAF Cosford and Junction 3
- Location: RAF Museum Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8UP
- Time: Wednesday 10th July from 7:00pm to 9:00 pm
- Presentation
Event: Former Ironbridge Power Station
- Location: Buildwas Village Hall, Park View, Buildwas, TF8 7DA
- Time: Wednesday 17th July from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
- Presentation
Event: Clive Barracks, Tern Hill
- Location: Stoke upon Tern Village Hall, Langley Dale, Stoke Upon Tern
- Time: Thursday 18th July from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
- Presentation
Evidence Base
Supporting assessments
Sustainability Appraisal
The ‘Strategic Sites’ Consultation, which represents the fourth stage of consultation on the Local Plan Review, has been subject to a Sustainability Appraisal in line with the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations, 2004.
A Sustainability Appraisal Summary Report and Sustainability Appraisal Report are available to download using the the links in the text, or at the bottom of the page.
Habitats Regulations Assessment
The ‘Strategic Sites’ Consultation, which represents the fourth stage of consultation on our Local Plan Review, has been screened under The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations, 2010 (as amended).
A Habitats Regulations Summary Report and Habitats Regulations Report are available at to download using the links in the text, or at the bottom of the page.
Equality and Social Inclusion Impact Assessment
The ‘Strategic Sites’ Consultation, which represents the fourth stage of consultation on our Local Plan Review, has been subject to an Equality and Social Inclusion Impact Assessment. The assessment is available using the link in the text, or at the bottom of the page.