SEA Scoping Consultation

Introduction

Next Shropshire Local Plan

Shropshire Council have issued an intention to commence preparation of the next Shropshire Local Plan which will establish the vision, measurable outcomes and spatial strategy for the sustainable development of Shropshire over the period to 2046.

It will be informed by assessments of need for housing (including affordable housing and specialist accommodation), employment and other appropriate land-uses. To meet identified needs, the next Shropshire Local Plan will allocate land and provide policies to manage development.

The next Shropshire Local Plan will also form the mineral and waste plan for Shropshire.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

As part of the plan-making process, we are required to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).

The purpose of SEA is to assess the potential environmental effects of the next Shropshire Local Plan. In this way it guides and shapes the plan-making process, preventing or reducing adverse impacts and enhancing opportunities for positive outcomes. SEA aims to strengthen a plan’s overall contribution to sustainable development.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening

The first stage of the SEA process is to undertake screening. The purpose of SEA Screening is to establish, from the outset, whether there is a need to undertake SEA to inform the next Shropshire Local Plan.

We undertook SEA Screening in May 2026, concluding a SEA was required. 

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Scoping

The second stage of the SEA process is to undertake scoping. The purpose of SEA Scoping is to consider baseline information about Shropshire, identify key environmental issues and opportunities, and identify SEA objectives and an assessment methodology.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Scoping Consultation

Draft SEA Scoping Report

We have now prepared a Draft SEA Scoping Report. This report summarises the consideration of baseline information (plans and programmes which may influence the Local Plan; and environmental data for Shropshire), identifies key environmental issues and opportunities in Shropshire, and outlines the proposed SEA objectives and assessment methodology which would be used to assess the likely environmental effects of the next Shropshire Local Plan – its strategy, policy options and site options (which will form part of the wider site assessment process). 

Consultation purpose

We welcome comments on all aspects of the draft SEA Scoping Report. In particular, we'd welcome views on the following:

1. Are there any other relevant policies, plans and programmes which should be reviewed as part of this SEA scoping report?
2. Are there any other sources or types of baseline data which should be assessed?
3. Do you agree with the identified SEA objectives?
4. Do you agree with the identification of supporting questions to add detailed to the wider SEA objectives and the decision to distinguish between those questions related to the assessment of the environmental effects of strategy and policy options and those questions related to the assessment of the environmental effects of site options?
5. Do you agree with the approach to identifying likely significant effects of strategy and policy options?
6. Do you agree with the approach to identifying likely significant effects of site options?
7. Any other comments on the scoping report.

All comments received during the consultation period will be reviewed and will inform the final version of the SEA Scoping Report, which will be published once completed.