Want to have your say on housebuilding plans for Shropshire: Local plan consultation dates confirmed

Consultation dates to shape a plan that will set out the county’s future house-building locations have been confirmed.

Shropshire Council has opened the consultation to shape its next local plan, which will run until July 15.

They will take place in Shrewsbury, Shifnal, Broseley, Bishop’s Castle, Albrighton, Highley, Market Drayton, Ludlow, Oswestry, and Whitchurch.

The local plan is one of a council’s most important planning documents, setting out where houses and commercial developments can be built.

The council is currently without an up-to-date local plan after inspectors last year effectively threw out the authority’s previous effort to complete the vital document.

The lack of an up-to-date local plan, combined with the council’s shortfall on a five-year-land-supply, has left it at the mercy of speculative development.

The impact has been seen with a host of housing applications submitted for sites across the Shropshire Council area.

David Walker, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for planning, has urged residents to attend the consultation dates.

He said: “This is the first step in creating a new Local Plan that reflects the needs and ambitions of Shropshire’s communities. We want to hear from people right across the county to help shape a plan that supports sustainable growth, protects our environment and ensures the right development happens in the right places.

“By getting involved at this early stage, residents, businesses, partners and anyone with an interested in the future of Shropshire can play a real role in shaping the future of Shropshire up to 2046.”

Confirming the start of the consultation on the new local plan the council said: “This marks the formal start of an important new chapter in planning for the future of Shropshire and sets out how the council will work with communities, businesses and partners to shape how the county grows and develops in the years ahead.

“As part of the consultation a series of drop-in sessions [see list below] are being held across the county, offering people a chance to speak to planning policy officers and find out more.

“The Local Plan is Shropshire’s key planning document. It sets out the long-term vision and framework for future development across the county, including where new homes, jobs, infrastructure and other development should be located, and how important natural, historic and community assets will be protected and enhanced.

“The new Local Plan will look ahead to 2046 and will also incorporate the Minerals and Waste Plan, ensuring a co-ordinated and sustainable approach to growth, infrastructure and the environment.

“The scoping consultation – which runs to 15 July – is an early stage of engagement and does not propose development sites or set out preferred options.

“Instead, it seeks views to shape the vision and priorities for the new Local Plan; the key issues and opportunities facing Shropshire; how future development should be planned sustainably; how the council should engage with communities and stakeholders, and the types of evidence that should inform future decisions.

“Feedback at this stage will help shape later stages of the Local Plan, when options and draft proposals are developed.”

Full details of the consultation, including how to take part and view supporting documents, are available on the Shropshire Council website.

The drop-in sessions will take place at the following locations.

• Albrighton Library: 16 June, 10am to 12noon
• Bishop’s Castle Library: 18 June, 10am to 12noon
• Broseley Library: 16 June, 2pm to 4pm
• Highley Library: 26 June, 10am to 12 noon
• Ludlow Library: 2 June, 1pm to 3pm
• Market Drayton Festival Drayton Centre: 19 June, 9.30am to 4pm
• Oswestry Library: 4 June, 10am to 12noon
• Shifnal Library; 12 June, 10am to 12noon
• Shrewsbury Guildhall: 17 June, 2pm to 4pm
• Whitchurch Library: 2 June, 2pm to 4pm