The final stage of a new planning blueprint that will help shape the development of Shropshire over the next 15 to 20 years has been approved by councillors and will go out to consultation next month.

Shropshire Council’s Core Strategy policy document will, when adopted, set out a clear, long-term vision for the future pattern of development across Shropshire, and will be used to guide decisions on planning applications, to 2026. The strategy contains 20 policies.

Martin Taylor-Smith, council cabinet member for strategic planning and transportation, said: “Extensive consultation has been carried out around earlier stages of this strategy and I would like to thank everyone who took part in this consultation.

“The strategy reflects the distinctively rural nature of Shropshire and the connection between the county town of Shrewsbury, the market towns, smaller settlements and the rural areas they serve.

“It is a flexible approach that seeks to work with each individual community to meet its needs and nurture, protect and develop the social and physical fabric of communities, supporting new economic potential within their environmental setting.”

The Core Strategy and all other supporting material, including representations made as part of the forthcoming consultation, will be submitted to the Secretary of State in July. An independent inspector will then be appointed to examine the ‘soundness’ of the strategy during the autumn.