Shropshire residents, businesses and other interested parties are being urged to help shape Shropshire Council’s next Local Plan before a consultation ends on 15 July.
The consultation began on 20 May [2026] and so far around 450 people and businesses have shared their thoughts, with dozens of people attending a series of 11 drop-in events held across the county to find out more.
Shropshire’s key planning document, the next Local Plan will look ahead to 2046. The ongoing ‘scoping’ consultation is an early stage of engagement and does not propose development sites or set out preferred options.
Instead, it seeks views to shape the vision and priorities for the new Local Plan; the key issues and opportunities facing Shropshire; how future development should be planned sustainably; how the council should engage with communities and stakeholders; and the types of evidence that should inform future decisions.
It also sets out how the council will work with communities, businesses and partners to shape how the county grows and develops in the years ahead.
The Local Plan will set out the long-term vision and framework for future development across the county. This includes where new homes, jobs, infrastructure and other development should be located, and how important natural, historic and community assets will be protected and enhanced.
Full details of the consultation, including how to take part and view supporting documents, are available on the Shropshire Council website.
David Walker, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for planning, said:
“I want to thank all those who have shared their thoughts so far or come to see us at one of the drop-in events – and I encourage everyone else with an interest in the future of Shropshire to visit our website and tell us their views before the 15 July deadline.
“This is the first step in creating a new Local Plan that reflects the needs and ambitions of Shropshire’s communities. We want to hear from people right across the county to help shape a plan that supports sustainable growth, protects our environment and ensures the right development happens in the right places.
“By getting involved at this early stage, residents, businesses, partners and anyone with an interested in the future of Shropshire can play a real role in shaping the future of Shropshire up to 2046.”
The deadline for responses to this consultation is 15 July 2026. Feedback that is received will be reviewed and used to inform the next stages of Local Plan preparation. Further consultations will follow as the plan progresses.
Further information
Alongside this consultation, Shropshire Council is continuing to invite stakeholders to promote land for development or mineral working – with such sites to be subject to a site assessment process, which will result in the identification of proposed allocations. Once identified, these proposed allocations will be subject to a future stage of consultation.
Details of how to promote land for development or mineral working is available on the Shropshire Council website.
