Planning Policy

Forward Planning

The Section is responsible primarily for the preparation, adoption and review of a Borough Wide Local Plan. The plan has to conform to the Shropshire Structure Plan which covers the whole county. This has recently been reviewed in conjunction with Telford and Wrekin which is now a unitary authority responsible for strategic planning.

The Borough Local Plan was adopted in June 2001 and provides the planning policy framework and land use guidance for the period up to 2006 and is used as the basis for development control decisions determined by the Local Planning Authority. Local Plans are required to be subjected to a thorough public consultation exercise so that the public and other interested parties can comment, object or influence the plan. The policies contained in the plan carry significant weight, but they are also subject to on-going review via careful monitoring. Hence, plans have to be reviewed about every 5 years to ensure that they are in step with new national and regional planning guidance. A review is now in progress to roll the plan forward to 2011.

The Section also undertakes a wide range of associated planning policy work in relation to housing, employment, retail and environmental/sustainability issues and has close working relationships with the Conservation and Development Control Sections. The preparation of supplementary planning guidance such as development briefs for key development sites identified in the local plan is also fundamental to the work of the Section.

The Section also provides advice regarding Public Rights of Way affected by new development and if you wish to order Ordnance Survey location plans to accompany your planning application these are available through our Technical Assistant Liz Hosie.

Conservation

planningconservation@shrewsbury.gov.uk

The Conservation Section is primarily engaged in the protection and enhancement of the built heritage, which includes 18 designated conservation areas and over 2000 listed buildings.

The Borough Council has a proven track record in the administering of a range of grant schemes, the largest of which has been the Conservation Area Partnership Scheme (CAPS) in association with English Heritage. Funds through this scheme have been targeted upon the repair and maintenance of the built environment to assist both the public and private sectors. These grants have had the added benefit of levering substantial private investment into the town's historic building stock providing a sustainable framework for the built environment.

In 2000/2001 the CAPS scheme was drawn to a close and was superseded by the Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme (HERS) for which the Council made a successful bid in 1999. The scheme demonstrates the Council's commitment to regeneration of the built environment and will focus on three areas over the next 2-3 years; the St Michael's Street Gateway Scheme, the Mardol Area (forming an integral part of the West End Regeneration Strategy which was initiated by the Conservation Section in 1998) and those areas affected by the recent floods (i.e. Frankwell, Wyle Cop) and The Square.

The Section is also involved in a wide range of other initiatives associated with the historic environment including a Building at Risk Survey, the regeneration of the Ditherington Flaxmill and the preparation of Conservation Area statements.

A Tree and Landscape Officer works within the Section and provides advice on a range of matters related to protected trees (ie Tree Preservation Orders) and planting schemes associated with new developments.