Local Plan set to go before full Council ahead of submission

Shropshire Council members will next week be asked to agree to the submission of the Local Plan – providing the county with a positive plan-led vision for the future.

Council members will be asked to approve the submission of the plan to the Secretary of State for independent examination, along with minor modifications and the evidence base.

The Local Plan establishes a long-term framework for growth and development in the county.

It is a key Council document, providing a basis in planning policy for several key Shropshire Council and partner documents, including the Climate Change Strategy, the Economic Growth Strategy, Community led and Neighbourhood Plans and the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan.

The submission of the plan will allow an independent planning inspector to examine and consider consultation responses received.

Councillor Ed Potter, portfolio holder for economic growth, regeneration and planning, said:

“I am delighted to be asking full council to approve the submission of the Local Plan to the Secretary of State.

“It is a document which has been rigorously consulted on and we have listened to people’s concerns and acted upon them.

“We believe this is a robust and positive planning document which will help us create a plan-led vision for future development for the county.”

The Council began preparing the Local Plan Review in 2017. Between then and 2020 the Local Plan has been subject to five separate consultations at the Regulation 18 stage.

More than 2,500 responses were received to the final consultation alone, with more than 10,000 in total across the period.

The draft Plan proposes to deliver around 30,800 dwellings over the plan period from 2016-2038.  This equates to around 1,400 dwellings per year. This includes 7,700 affordable houses, equating to around 25% of all dwellings built.

To provide sufficient opportunities for new jobs, the draft Plan also proposes to deliver around 300 hectares of employment land over the Plan period.

Councillor Potter added:

“At its core, the Local Plan is about ensuring that the development that will take place in the county over the coming years remains plan-led.

“Its role is to translate the high level definitions of sustainable development into a local context and to develop a strategy appropriate to the area.

“In doing so it should be remembered that achieving sustainable development involves a balance of considerations across social, economic and environmental issues.”

If approved next week, Shropshire Council will proceed to submit the Plan for independent Examination next month.  The Examination process is likely to last around a year, and subject to the outcome of this process the Council will be asked to adopt the Local Plan in mid 2022.