Shropshire Local Plan - Scoping Consultation

Introduction

Next Shropshire Local Plan 

Shropshire Council has issued an intention to commence preparation of the next Shropshire Local Plan. 

What is the Shropshire Local Plan 

The next Shropshire Local Plan will establish the vision, measurable outcomes and a 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. 

Consultation on Local Plan Scope 

Overview 

To inform preparation of the next Shropshire Local Plan, we're undertaking a 'scoping consultation’ seeking the views of our local communities, town and parish councils, local businesses and organisations and all other interested stakeholders. 

Purpose of this consultation 

This consultation focuses on what the next Shropshire Local Plan should contain and our approach to engagement during its preparation. This includes: 

  1. The key priorities for the vision and measurable outcomes for the delivery of the next Shropshire Local Plan. 

  1. The key considerations for identifying a spatial strategy to manage the level and distribution of development in Shropshire. 

  1. The approach to identifying and assessing potential site allocations. 

  1. Matters that would benefit from being addressed by local planning policies to complement new national decision-making policies. 

  1. How we should effectively engage communities and wider stakeholders during the plan-making process. 

  1. The evidence required to support the next Shropshire Local Plan. 

Timescales for this consultation 

This 'scoping consultation' runs from: 20 May 2026 – 15 July 2026.

Scoping consultation document 

The scoping consultation documentation can be accessed using the following links:

Planning
The Local Plan
Engagement
Scoping consultation
Information
The vision and measurable outcomes
Tick Box
The Spatial Strategy
Buildings
Identifying and assessing sites
House
Policy areas
Hand Small Plant
Effective engagement
Document
Evidence
Document
Appendix 1 - Shropshire’s Wider Strategies
Document
Appendix 2 - Shropshire’s Strategic Corridors
Document
Appendix 3 - Consultation Questions

Scoping consultation document (PDF)

The scoping consultation document is also available as a PDF... 

How to get involved

To support those responding to this consultation we've prepared an online response form.

We believe this form makes it quicker and easier for communities and other stakeholders to respond. It also automates submission upon completion and will help us to consider responses more efficiently. As such, our preference is that responses are submitted in this way. 

However, we understand that some people may wish to submit their responses in another format. As such, an alternative version of the response form has also been made available. 

Such responses can be submitted:

Please ensure that responses are submitted and received by the council by 15 July 2026.

Promoting the Consultation

To promote this consultation, we've issued a digital press release and social media posts. Complementary to this we have issued a notification to those on the planning policy consultation database. If you'd like to register for further updates please sign-up. A series of drop-in sessions have also been arranged, providing anyone interested with the opportunity to gain further understanding of this consultation. These drop-in sessions are at:

Albrighton Library 10:00-12:00 16/06/2026
Bishop's Castle Library 10:00-12:00 18/06/2026
Broseley Library 14:00-16:00 16/06/2026
Highley Library 10:00-12:00 26/06/2026
Ludlow Library 13:00-15:00 02/06/2026
Market Drayton Festival Drayton Centre 09:30-16:00 19/06/2026
Oswestry Library 10:00-12:00 04/06/2026
Shifnal Library 10:00-12:00 12/06/2026
Shrewsbury Guildhall 14:00-16:00 17/06/2026
Whitchurch Library 14:00-16:00 02/06/2026

Other consultation documents 

Draft Community Hierarchy 

A community hierarchy considers community characteristics using consistent criteria and groups them based on their similarities. 

Within our ‘scoping consultation’ we're also seeking views on the methodology and conclusions of a draft Community Hierarchy for Shropshire. 

Draft Site Identification and Assessment Methodology 

Within our ‘scoping consultation’ we're also seeking views on a draft Site Identification and Assessment Methodology. 

The purpose of this document is to outline the proposed approach to the: 

  • Identification of sites to be considered as proposed allocations

  • Assessment of identified sites, to determine proposed allocations 

Sites that have been promoted for development to the council through a ‘call for sites’ process, which will be assessed using our finalised site assessment methodology, have been mapped.

We're continuing to invite stakeholders to promote sites for development.

Similarly, we're also continuing to invite stakeholders to promote land for mineral working.

Please note: not all promoted sites will be proposed for allocation. Proposed allocations will be identified through the site assessment process and will be consulted on in future stages of the preparation of the Local Plan.

Related information

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