Shropshire Star

Decision due on plan to fight ‘urban sprawl’ in village

A new development plan is set to be adopted in Lilleshall tomorrow, with the aim of protecting the village from expansion and urban sprawl.

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Lilleshall. Photo: Google StreetView.

More than 80 per cent of voters approved of the plan in a referendum, and Telford and Wrekin Council is now expected to adopt the plan, which will remain in force until 2031.

When asked “Do you want borough of Telford and Wrekin to use the neighbourhood plan to help it decide planning applications in the area?”, “yes” voters outnumbered “no” voters by 302 to 72 – a 34% turnout of Lilleshall’s 1,098-strong electorate.

In a report before the borough’s cabinet, senior planning officer Lawrence Munyuki writes that the 2011 Localism Act gives councils the power to produce neighbourhood development plans. If adopted, Lilleshall’s would be the fifth such plan in Telford and Wrekin.

Mr Munyuki notes that the borough council is obliged to follow the referendum and enact the local plan by January 3 – eight weeks after the referendum date.

The draft plan, as presented to voters, had a list of 13 aims. These included a pledge to make sure most new building was limited to “infill sites” – between existing houses and not expanding the village – and to prevent the merging of built-up areas “to retain the rural character and identity of Lilleshall village and the wider parish”.

It also seeks to ensure new development has sufficient car parking, and encourages “alternative, safe and convenient means of travel” to reduce car use, noise and pollution in Lilleshall.

In their foreword to the plan, Lilleshall Parish Council chairman Bob Taylor and member David Shaw thank residents who took part in the consultation.

“We value the enormous amount of time residents of the parish have put into their responses,” they write.

“The thoughtful and detailed comments received have assisted the parish council to reach a point where we feel confident the neighbourhood plan accurately reflects the views of the community.”

Residents were able to vote by post, or in person at Lilleshall Memorial Hall, on Hillside, Lilleshall.

When it meets on Thursday, Telford and Wrekin’s nine-member cabinet will discuss adopting the local plan.

By Alex Moore, local democracy reporter