Inspector reveals proposed changes to Shropshire Council's vision for future of county

Members of the public now have six weeks to respond to the modifications, which look at housing, retail, employment land and mineral extraction.

SAMdev sets out how the county should develop over the next decade, from 2006 to 2016, setting out which land should be zoned for various uses.

Many of the housing sites have sparked controversy with local objectors fighting to keep land free from development and villagers protesting against their area being named one for future housebuilding.

Residents of Tyrley and Woodseaves in north Shropshire have found that their objection to being part of a Market Drayton cluster has proved successful with Government inspector, Claire Sherratt, proposing to take them out of the equation.

It will mean that about 15 homes that could have been built in the two villages will not now be needed.

Clun Town Council has won a modification in ensuring that about 60 of the 70 new homes proposed for the area, are built on a site to the eastern edge of the town close to the existing services including the surgery and business park and include affordable and family housing.

The inspector says that additional community hubs and community cluster settlements may be proposed by parish councils following formal preparation or review of a community-led plan or a neighbourhood plan.

And she says that SAMdev would not preclude other sites coming forward for development.

"Windfall development on other sites is also important, both within settlements and in the countryside, including both brownfield and, where sustainable, greenfield sites, having due regard to the policies of the local plan," the inspector says.

Shropshire Council says that it needs to see 27,000 new homes built by 2016, with 6,500 in Shrewsbury, 11,000 in the county's market towns and 10,000 in more rural areas.

The inspectors' proposed modifications keep in two major urban extensions for Shrewsbury, one to the south and the other to the west of the county town.

They also retain the Oswestry urban extension, about 1,400 new dwellings for Bridgnorth and housing sites across the county in both towns and villages.

The inspector also suggested various modifications to protect both historic and ecological sites.

This includes a line in the Ludlow development strategy that all development should protect, restore and enhance the historic core of the town, recognising the importance of Ludlow Castle as a heritage asset of national and international significance.

There are changes to the wording relating to rural workers' dwellings to prevent them from being lost to the county.

People can take part in the six-week consultation on the Shropshire Council website at https://shropshire.gov.uk/planning-policy/samdev-examination/main-modifications-consultation