Planning agent shares 'four issues of concern' after council cancel hearings

Last week it emerged that government-appointed planning inspectors had scrapped a series of hearings planned to conclude the examination of the authority’s plan.

The surprise move came with inspectors Louise Crosby and Elaine Worthington writing that they had taken the decision because of “significant concerns about the soundness of the plan in respect of a number of areas”.

The development is a major blow to Shropshire Council, with council officials, councillors, county residents, campaigners, developers, landowners, and planning agents all now waiting to see the detail of the inspectors’ concerns.

In their letter confirming the decision to scrap the planned hearings, the inspectors said they would outline the concerns in detail “as soon as possible”.

Stuart Thomas CEO at leading county property firm, Berrys in Shrewsbury, was present for a number of the hearings in the two weeks before they were cancelled. 

Reacting to the inspectors’ announcement he said there would be concerns the developments could lead to a worst-case-scenario for the council where it has to withdraw the plan.

The Local Plan is one of a council's most important policies and sets out locations across the authority's area where housing and commercial developments are recommended to take place up until 2038.

Shropshire Council’s proposed local plan is made up of a combined 31,300 homes from 2016 to 2038, as well as 320 hectares of employment land - a figure which has been adjusted during the plan process, which started in 2017.