Meeting hears town's housing and climate plan

Much Wenlock’s Priory Hall hosted a lively meeting on Friday when local residents gathered to hear about progress of a review of the town’s Neighbourhood Plan.

The medieval town was one of the first parishes in England to create its Neighbourhood Plan under the Localism Act 2011.

The town council and many community volunteers worked throughout 2012 to produce a plan that was adopted as the basis for housing and employment growth.

The review of the plan covers many aspects of the original plan, which was adopted by Shropshire  Council in 2014. It also picks up or strengthens others to reflect changes that have  occurred in the intervening ten years.

The plan’s climate change policies were also being updated along with proposed policies to limit serious local  flooding. These will encourage development located away from the worst affected areas.  Nature-based steps to reduce flooding will also be supported.

Dan Thomas, chairman of the  review’s steering group, and also Shropshire Councillor and deputy mayor of Much  Wenlock said: “While climate change is an international issue, we have a part to play at the  local level.

“Amongst other parts of the current policies we want to strengthen those on  efficiency standards by encouraging development to improve their energy efficiency,  insulation, and to reduce water consumption.

“We suggest that housing policies remain largely unchanged  because the original plan was sound. Small scale rural ‘exception’ sites for affordable  homes will be limited to 20 dwellings, and market housing developments will include 20 per cent affordable homes, both figures in line with Shropshire Council’s policy”.

Speakers from the steering group also covered good quality design - always high on the  agenda in this historic market town and green and open spaces. Concerns about light  pollution and preserving valued landscapes locally may be addressed by new landscape  and wildlife policies.