'Great opportunity' to speed up Shropshire house building

The council is currently consulting on the Shropshire Local Plan which sets out the strategy for house building until 2036 – with 13,000 new homes potentially being built over the next 20 years.

The existing Local Plan said that 27,500 houses would be built between 2006 and 2026, and the council says about 15,400 of those units have now been built.

That means that a further 12,100 of the initial target still need to be built – and the council is now extending the Local Plan to 2036 and asking if people think that more homes are needed. Abbie Pritchard-Hooper, a planning specialist at Lanyon Bowdler Solicitors in Shrewsbury, said the answer had to be a resounding "yes".

She said: "I don't think there is any doubt that there is a shortage of housing supply in Shropshire, particularly homes which are suitable for first-time buyers. Part of the consultation involves a 'call for sites', with landowners able to submit new sites which they think might be suitable for housing, and that presents a great opportunity.

"The Government has just published a white paper on housing which sets out plans to boost the number of new houses being built across the UK, so we welcome this consultation which could make a real difference here in Shropshire."

"We are working with our colleagues in the commercial property team at the firm to advise our clients on the best way forward to potentially submit suitable sites for assessment."

Abbie said the council's indicative figures for the number of new homes to be built in the next 20 years were relatively modest, although she did not underestimate the work that the council and prospective developers could face to persuade communities of the benefits of accepting more housing in the interest of sustainability and meeting future housing needs.

She added: "The existing Local Plan had provision for 27,500 new homes by 2026, and the council says that 15,400 have so far been built, which leaves 12,100 to be built.

"Under the extension of the Local Plan to 2036, the council is now proposing three options of building 26,250, 27,500 or 28,750 homes by 2036 - so virtually the same amount as already set out but over an extra 10 years.

"We think the market needs more than that, so we are hopeful that this consultation will result in a good number of potential sites being identified."

Shrewsbury-based planning consultant at the Planning Group, Martin Parrish, who is also working with Lanyon Bowdler to advise clients of the potential opportunities, added: "The council is looking to allocate new development sites in sustainable locations, the submissions will need to show how the proposals integrate with existing infrastructure and the community together with safe access and minimal impact on the environment."

The consultation runs until March 20 and more information can be found on the Shropshire Council website.