Issue - meetings
Approval of Shropshire Hills National Landscape Management Plan 2025-30 and new Shropshire Hills National Landscape Advisory Committee Terms of Reference
Meeting: 21/01/2026 - Cabinet (Item 110)
Lead Member – Councillor James Owen, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Leisure
Lead Officer – Andy Wilde, Service Director - Infrastructure
Additional documents:
- Appendix A to Cabinet report Thriving in Balance with Nature final draft for approval, item 110
PDF 11 MB
- Appendix B to Cabinet report - Advisory Commitee Terms of Reference, item 110
PDF 165 KB
- Appendix C - ESHIA for Shropshire Hills Plan and Committee final 080126 (002), item 110
PDF 482 KB
Decision:
RESOLVED:
1. That Cabinet formally approve on behalf of Shropshire Council the new Shropshire Hills National Landscape Management Plan 2025-2030.
2. That Cabinet formally approve on behalf of Shropshire Council the Terms of Reference for the new Shropshire Hills National Landscape Advisory Committee.
Minutes:
The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Leisure introduced the management plan, explaining it sets out partnership priorities for the next five years, focusing on improving the area for both residents and visitors, expanding biodiversity, decarbonisation, and flood management. The plan is advisory, not binding, and implementation depends on securing external funding.
The plan was welcomed, and the importance of balancing landscape protection with sustainable development for local communities, affordable housing, and tourism was emphasised.
Concerns were raised that the plan could overly restrict development, potentially harming rural families, farm diversification, and affordable housing. There was support for limiting large-scale renewable energy in the area, but also a call to protect productive farmland and support local agriculture. It was clarified that the management plan cannot block all development and that the Local Plan will address genuine community needs, with cross-council collaboration to ensure balanced growth.
RESOLVED:
1. That Cabinet formally approve on behalf of Shropshire Council the new Shropshire Hills National Landscape Management Plan 2025-2030.
2. That Cabinet formally approve on behalf of Shropshire Council the Terms of Reference for the new Shropshire Hills National Landscape Advisory Committee.