Shropshire Council’s Long-Term Housing Plan Hearings Suspended by Inspectors

Hearings concerning Shropshire’s long-term housing strategy have been suspended by housing inspectors, a development that has surprised the county council. The council submitted these proposals in 2021, detailing potential development sites spanning the period from 2016 to 2038. The plan incorporates a total of 31,000 residences, with specific allocations including 600 in Tasley near Bridgnorth, 300 on Mytton Oak Road in Shrewsbury, and 600 within the redevelopment of the Ironbridge power station site. The inspectors paused the plan after expressing “serious concerns.” The council stated it was unable to provide additional comments until it received further specifics regarding these issues. A two-week hearing on the plans took place last month, with additional sessions scheduled for the three weeks commencing 18 November. However, in correspondence sent to the council, examining inspectors Louise Crosby and Elaine Worthington communicated that they “considered it would not be appropriate” to continue with the subsequent examination. The specific details of these concerns have not yet been disclosed; the inspectors indicated they would outline them in a separate letter promptly. Councils periodically develop local plans to assess suitable locations for new homes and workplaces within their jurisdictions. These plans offer a high-level overview of sites designated for development, without delving into the specific design or implementation details of individual projects, which are subject to separate detailed planning permission. They serve as a mechanism for local authorities to demonstrate how they intend to achieve government housing targets and ensure a sufficient land supply for new construction. Lacking such a framework, councils face increased difficulty in rejecting undesirable planning applications. The inspectors acknowledged their understanding that the council would be “disappointed” by their decision, but affirmed it was reached following a thorough review of evidence provided by the authority and submissions from those making representations regarding the plan. In its response, the council expressed surprise at the postponement and stated it had actively engaged in addressing particular concerns raised by the inspectors throughout the ongoing process. The council issued a statement saying: “Until we receive a more detailed explanation from the inspectors of the issues they are raising and want further assurance on, we can’t make any further comment. Once we can clearly understand what these issues are, we will seek to respond so that hearing sessions can resume as quickly as possible.” The council affirmed its continued commitment to implementing a plan designed to foster sustainable development, and to provide housing and employment opportunities surpassing minimum requirements. The Local Democracy Reporting Service, which reports on councils and other public service bodies, compiled this news. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.