Last night I attended a public meeting at the Cosford museum organised by Shropshire Council to discuss the proposed strategic sites for development, specifically a new garden village at junction 3 of the M54 and bringing RAF Cosford out of the green belt.
Peter Nutting the leader of Shropshire Council was present as was Robert Macey portfolio holder for Planning and Strategic Development and Officers whose remit cover planning, education and economic development.
It was explained that following a strategic defence review, the MoD would like to expand the training facilities at Cosford and bring the area out of then green belt.
Additionally at junction 3, Bradford Estates, have brought forward two parcels of land, one 50 hectares for employment, the other for 3000 houses.
Following a description of the sites and an outline of the planning process and timelines, members of the public were given the opportunity to ask questions or raise concerns. Here is a summary of some of the points made:
- That not all of Cosford should be brought out of green belt and the boundaries should be reviewed.
- To date there were still no specific plans for the Bradford estate site or any justification provided to SCC for its development.
- Following the development of the garden village it was confirmed that the site would need a new primary school but there would be an impact on secondary school places at Idsall.
- The point was made that there would be a strain put on the doctors surgeries in Shifnal and Albrighton but that it was a decision for the CCG to allocate resources for healthcare.
- That the M54 was already extremely busy at peak times and the site would only work if the M54 became a 3 lane motorway.
- Likewise the train line running from Shrewsbury to Birmingham is overcrowded and there is no disabled access at Shifnal, Cosford and Albrighton and that the line should be electrified.
- That there was currently insufficient information for the public to make judgements on this development.
- That priority should be given to existing brownfield sites e.g. at Ironbridge (although this development also brings land out of the green belt).
Shropshire council made the point that currently most people commute out of Shropshire for work and that too many young people leave the county as it was a low wage economy. Therefore they want to encourage and develop a high skills economy and reverse the ageing population.
They also confirmed that it was the Black Country authorities that had approached them (SCC) not the other way around (all correspondence is available on the SCC website) and that the Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority had no say over planning matters.
Anyone in the county can respond to the consultation and I would encourage everyone to do so as it affects not just Tong but Shifnal, Albrighton and Donington.
Details are as follows:
Local Plan Review – ‘Strategic Sites’ Consultation
Shropshire Council is continuing to progress with its Local Plan Review.
To inform this review, Shropshire Council is now seeking comments on the fourth stage of consultation on the Local Plan Review, the ‘Strategic Sites’. This consultation runs from Monday 1st July 2019 to Monday 9thSeptember 2019.
The ‘Strategic Sites’ Consultation:
· Identifies a series of preferred strategic sites, specifically:
a) Clive Barracks, Tern Hill;
b) Former Ironbridge Power Station; and
c) RAF Cosford
· Identifies a further potential strategic site at land north of Junction 3 of the M54, which is currently subject to consideration but is not currently a preferred strategic site.
If you are interested in being involved in shaping the future of your local area, then we would like to hear from you.
The ‘Strategic Sites’ Consultation Document; Questionnaire; and related documents (including Sustainability Appraisal; Habitats Regulations Assessment; and Equality and Social Inclusion Impact Assessment), are available on the Shropshire Council website at: www.shropshire.gov.uk/local-plan-strategic-sites-consultation
Paper copies will also be on display at Shropshire libraries and main Shropshire Council Offices during their normal opening hours.
The evidence base documents which have informed this consultation are available to view on the Shropshire Council website at:
https://shropshire.gov.uk/planning-policy/local-planning/local-plan-partial-review-2016-2036/evidence-base/
How to Respond
Our preferred method of response to the ‘Strategic Sites’ Consultation, is by using the ‘Strategic Sites’ Questionnaire, available on the Shropshire Council website at: www.shropshire.gov.uk/local-plan-strategic-sites-consultation
Once completed, the Questionnaire can be submitted by:
· Email to: planningpolicy@shropshire.gov.uk
To submit a completed Questionnaire via email, please use the following steps:
o Save a copy of this Questionnaire to your computer.
o Open and complete the version of the Questionnaire saved to your computer.
o Once completed, re-save the Questionnaire to your computer.
o Attach the completed version of the Questionnaire saved on your computer to an email.
o Open the Questionnaire attached to the email to ensure it is the version you wish to submit.
o If submitting your own response, please enter your last name in the subject field of the email.
If submitting a response on behalf of a client, please enter their last name in the subject field of the email.
o Submit the email to planningpolicy@shropshire.gov.uk
· Post to: Shropshire Council, Planning Policy & Strategy Team, Shirehall, Shrewsbury, SY2 6ND
Please ensure that Shropshire Council receives any consultation response by Monday 9th September 2019.
What Happens Next?
We’re proposing further consultation on the Local Plan Review in March 2020. Further information will be provided on the Shropshire Council website as and when available.
The existing Core Strategy & SAMDev Plan will remain in force until any new Plan is adopted which is anticipated around 2021.
Edward Bird - Councillor for Shifnal South and Cosford 