Planning in Shropshire

Sustainable Design and Development

All development must make a positive contribution to Shropshire's environment and communities and should be designed to reduce natural resource consumption and promote efficient use of resources, and that resource and energy efficiency and renewable energy generation are adequately addressed and improved where possible. Requiring proposals likely to generate significant levels of traffic to be located in accessible locations where opportunities for walking, cycling and use of public transport can be maximised and the need for car based travel to be reduced. And ensuring that all development: Is designed to be adaptable, safe and accessible to all, to respond to the challenge of climate change and, in relation to housing, adapt to changing lifestyle needs over the lifetime of the development in accordance with the objectives of Policy CS11; Protects, restores, conserves and enhances the natural, built and historic environment and is appropriate in scale, density, pattern and design taking into account the local context and character, and those features which contribute to local character, having regard to national and local design guidance, landscape character assessments and ecological strategies where appropriate; Contributes to the health and wellbeing of communities, including safeguarding residential and local amenity and the achievement of local standards for the provision and quality of open space, sport and recreational facilities. Is designed to a high quality, consistent with national good practice standards, including appropriate landscaping and car parking provision and taking account of site characteristics such as land stability and ground contamination; Makes the most effective use of land and safeguards natural resources including high quality agricultural land, geology, minerals, air, soil and water; Ensures that there is capacity and availability of infrastructure to serve any new development in accordance with the objectives of Policy CS8. Proposals resulting in the loss of existing facilities, services or amenities will be resisted unless provision is made for equivalent or improved provision, or it can be clearly demonstrated that the existing facility, service or amenity is not viable over the long term.

Economic Development, Enterprise and Employment

Shropshire Council, working with its partners, will plan positively to develop and diversify the Shropshire economy, supporting enterprise, and seeking to deliver sustainable economic growth and prosperous communities. In doing so, particular emphasis will be placed on: • Promoting Shropshire as a business investment location and a place for a range of business types to start up, invest and grow, recognising the economic benefits of Shropshire's environment and quality of life as unique selling points which need to be valued, conserved and enhanced; • Raising the profile of Shrewsbury, developing its role as the county town, growth point and the main business, service and visitor centre for the Shropshire sub-region, in accordance with Policy CS2; • Supporting the revitalisation of Shropshire's Market Towns, developing their role as key service centres, providing employment and a range of facilities and services accessible to their rural hinterlands, in accordance with Policy CS3; • Supporting the development and growth of Shropshire's key business sectors and clusters, in particular: environmental technologies; creative and cultural industries; tourism; and the land based sector, particularly food and drink production and processing; • Planning and managing a responsive and flexible supply of employment land and premises comprising a range and choice of sites in appropriate locations to meet the needs of business, with investment in infrastructure to aid their development or to help revitalise them; • Supporting initiatives and development related to the provision of higher/further education facilities which offer improved education and training opportunities to help raise skills levels of residents and meet the needs of employers; • Supporting the development of sustainable transport and ICT/broadband infrastructure, to improve accessibility / connectivity to employment, education and training opportunities, key facilities and services; • Encouraging home based enterprise, the development of business hubs, live-work schemes and appropriate use of residential properties for home working; • In rural areas, recognising the continued importance of farming for food production and supporting rural enterprise and diversification of the economy, in particular areas of economic activity associated with agricultural and farm diversification, forestry, green tourism and leisure, food and drink processing, and promotion of local food and supply chains. Development proposals must accord with Policy CS5.

Managed Release of Employment Land

A strategic supply of employment land and premises will be identified and managed to deliver around 290 hectares of employment development from 2006 to 2026 which will be distributed in accordance with the strategic approach in Policy CS1. This strategic supply of employment land and premises will satisfy the employment needs of the different locations in the settlement strategy in accordance with Policies CS2, CS3, CS4, and CS5. A suitable portfolio of employment land and premises will be identified and maintained to provide a range and choice of sites in terms of their quality, accessibility, type and size which will comprise: sites above 0.1ha as the threshold for the strategic land supply; developable land currently committed for employment use; employment land and premises allocated to meet the longer term employment land requirement including sites of sub-regional significance; dedicating land and premises for the use of key local employers; appropriate allowances for local economic development opportunities. The portfolio of employment land and premises will be supported by: protecting existing strategic employment land and premises to secure these sites for employment uses; safeguarding sufficient land to facilitate the delivery of: • other strategic development objectives including town centre uses in Policies CS2 and CS15 and waste infrastructure in Policy CS19 subject to relevant policy tests including the protection of town centre vitality and viability; • other land uses which contribute to the creation and maintenance of sustainable communities in Policies CS6 and CS8; • ancillary facilities, services or uses which support enterprise and economic growth especially in employment developments. The portfolio of employment land and premises will be identified and managed in accordance with national guidance. The portfolio of employment land will be delivered using a managed Reservoir which will comprise: a rolling 5 year strategic land supply of 72 hectares comprising readily available employment commitments and allocations; the initial Reservoir will largely comprise the developable supply of committed land and premises; the Reservoir will be reviewed annually through the Annual Monitoring Report to support economic development but: the Reservoir will also allow other land and premises to come forward to support the Core Strategy objectives.

Environmental Networks

Development will identify, protect, enhance, expand and connect Shropshire's environmental assets, to create a multifunctional network of natural and historic resources. This will be achieved by ensuring that all development: • Protects and enhances the diversity, high quality and local character of Shropshire's natural, built and historic environment, and does not adversely affect the visual, ecological, geological, heritage or recreational values and functions of these assets, their immediate surroundings or their connecting corridors; • Contributes to local distinctiveness, having regard to the quality of Shropshire's environment, including landscape, biodiversity and heritage assets, such as the Shropshire Hills AONB, the Meres and Mosses and the World Heritage Sites at Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal and Ironbridge Gorge; • Does not have a significant adverse impact on Shropshire's environmental assets and does not create barriers or sever links between dependant sites; • Secures financial contributions, in accordance with Policies CS8 and CS9, towards the creation of new, and improvement to existing, environmental sites and corridors, the removal of barriers between sites, and provision for long term management and maintenance. Sites and corridors are identified in the LDF evidence base and will be regularly monitored and updated.

Sustainable Water Management

Developments will integrate measures for sustainable water management to reduce flood risk, avoid an adverse impact on water quality and quantity within Shropshire, including groundwater resources, and provide opportunities to enhance biodiversity, health and recreation, by ensuring that: • Planning applications and allocations in the Site Allocations and Management of Development (SAMDev) DPD, are in accordance with the tests contained in PPS25, and have regard to the SFRAs for Shropshire; • New development is designed to be safe, taking into account the lifetime of the development, and the need to adapt to climate change. Proposals should have regard to the design guidance provided in the SFRAs for Shropshire; • All development within local surface water drainage areas, as identified by the Water Cycle Study, and any major development proposals, demonstrate that surface water will be managed in a sustainable and coordinated way. Proposals will be supported by either a Surface Water Management Statement or Plan, depending on the scale of the development; • All developments, including changes to existing buildings, include appropriate sustainable drainage systems (SUDS) to manage surface water. All developments should aim to achieve a reduction in the existing runoff rate, but must not result in an increase in runoff; • New development improves drainage by opening up existing culverts where appropriate; • Proposals within areas of infrastructure capacity constraint, as identified by the Water Cycle Study and the Implementation Plan, and any major development, demonstrates that there is adequate water infrastructure in place to serve the development; • New development enhances and protects water quality, including Shropshire's groundwater resources; • New development, including changes to existing buildings, incorporate water efficiency measures, in accordance with the sustainability checklist in Policy CS6, to meet the water efficiency objectives within the Shropshire Water Cycle Study to protect water resources and reduce pressure on wastewater treatment infrastructure.

Countryside and Green Belt

New development will be strictly controlled in accordance with national planning policies protecting the countryside and Green Belt. Subject to the further controls over development that apply to the Green Belt, development proposals on appropriate sites which maintain and enhance countryside vitality and character will be permitted where they improve the sustainability of rural communities by bringing local economic and community benefits, particularly where they relate to: • Small-scale new economic development diversifying the rural economy, including farm diversification schemes; • dwellings to house agricultural, forestry or other essential countryside workers and other affordable housing / accommodation to meet a local need in accordance with national planning policies and Policies CS11 and CS12; - With regard to the above two types of development, applicants will be required to demonstrate the need and benefit for the development proposed. Development will be expected to take place primarily in recognisable named settlements or be linked to other existing development and business activity where this is appropriate. • Agricultural/horticultural/forestry/mineral related development, although proposals for large scale new development will be required to demonstrate that there are no unacceptable adverse environmental impacts; • The retention and appropriate expansion of an existing established business, unless relocation to a suitable site within a settlement would be more appropriate; • The conversion or replacement of suitably located buildings for small scale economic development / employment generating use; • Sustainable rural tourism and leisure and recreation proposals which require a countryside location, in accordance with Policies CS16 and CS17; • Required community uses and infrastructure which cannot be accommodated within settlements; • Conversion of rural buildings which take account of and make a positive contribution to the character of the buildings and the countryside. Proposals for conversions will be considered with regard to the principles of PPS4, giving equal priority to the following uses: - small scale economic development/employment generating use, including live-work proposals and tourism uses; - affordable housing to meet local need (including agricultural workers dwellings); - other uses appropriate to a countryside location. Open market residential conversions will only be considered where respect for the heritage asset (as also required by Policy CS17) and high standards of sustainability are achieved; a contribution to infrastructure requirements is made in accordance with Policy CS9; and, except where the buildings are listed, a financial contribution for the provision of affordable housing to be delivered off site is provided in accordance with Policy CS11. In all cases, development proposals should be consistent with the requirements of Policies CS6 and CS17. Within the designated Green Belt in south-eastern Shropshire, there will be additional control of new development in line with government guidance in PPG2. Land within development boundaries in the settlements of Shifnal, Albrighton, Alveley, Beckbury, Claverley, and Worfield, and at the Alveley and Stanmore Industrial Estates is excluded from the Green Belt. In addition to appropriate development in these areas, limited infilling will be permitted in any other Community Hubs and Community Clusters listed in the SAMDev DPD, subject to the requirements of Policies CS4, CS6 and CS11. Also, limited local needs affordable housing on exceptions sites which accords with the requirements of Policy CS11 will be permitted in the Green Belt. Areas of safeguarded land are reserved for potential future development at Albrighton and Shifnal, while the military base and Royal Air Force Museum at Cosford is recognised as a major existing developed site within the Green Belt where limited defence related development will be permitted. The Green Belt boundary and all relevant policy areas are identified on the Proposals Map for the SAMDev DPD, which sets out the detailed approach to development in the Green Belt and any new site allocations required within the safeguarded land.

Strategic Approach

Shropshire will flourish, accommodating investment and new development to contribute to meeting its needs and to make its settlements more sustainable, delivering over the plan period 2006-2026, around 27,500 new homes, of which 9,000 will be "affordable housing", around 290 hectares of employment land, and accompanying infrastructure across Shropshire in the following places: • Shrewsbury, as a sub-regional centre and Shropshire's growth point, will be the focus for significant retail, office and employment development, and accommodate approximately 25% of Shropshire's residential development over the plan period; • The Market Towns and other Key Centres will maintain and enhance their traditional roles in providing services and employment, accommodating around 40% of Shropshire's residential development over the plan period; • The rural areas will become more sustainable through a "rural rebalance" approach, accommodating around 35% of Shropshire's residential development over the plan period. Development and investment will be located predominantly in community hubs and community clusters, and will contribute to social and economic vitality. Outside these settlements, development will primarily be for economic diversification and to meet the needs of the local communities for affordable housing. The Site Allocations and Management of Development (SAMDev) DPD will make provision for housing and employment needs in the towns, Key Centres and rural areas having regard to the differing pressures, opportunities and constraints in the spatial zones. Broadly this means: • In Central Shropshire, 8,250 – 8,800 dwellings and 95 - 105 hectares employment land, of which 85 – 95 hectares will be in Shrewsbury; • In North West Shropshire, 5,775 – 6,325 dwellings and 55 - 65 hectares employment land; • In North East Shropshire, 5,500 – 6,050 dwellings and 50 - 60 hectares employment land; • In South Shropshire, 3,575 – 4,125 dwellings and 35 - 45 hectares employment land; • In East Shropshire, 3,025 –3,575 dwellings and 30 - 40 hectares employment land, together with additional housing provision of up to 1,000 dwellings, if required, for returning military personnel.

Managed Release of Housing Land

The availability of housing land will be kept under review, maintaining a continuous supply of suitable sites to deliver the overall housing target. New housing sites identified in the Site Allocations and Management of Development (SAMDev) DPD will be released for development having regard to: • The need to maintain a 5 year supply of housing land; • The delivery of the levels of development required in each spatial zone including the SUEs at Shrewsbury West, Shrewsbury South, and Oswestry; • Priority for the re-use and development of brownfield sites on suitable sites in sustainable locations, while considering the need to retain local employment and sites of historic or ecological value, with the aim of achieving 60% of overall development on brownfield land; • The contribution that will be made towards improved infrastructure provision, including affordable housing.

Type and Affordability of Housing

To meet the diverse housing needs of Shropshire residents now and in the future and to create mixed, balanced and inclusive communities, an integrated and balanced approach will be taken with regard to existing and new housing, including type, size, tenure and affordability. This will be achieved by: • Seeking housing developments which help to balance the size, type and tenure of the local housing stock; • Seeking to achieve an overall target of 33% local needs affordable housing from all sources for the first five years of the plan period, comprised of 20% social-rented and 13% intermediate affordable housing. Subsequent targets will be set through the Housing Strategy for Shropshire. Individual schemes will encompass a mix of tenures including social-rented and intermediate housing determined by the Council using the most recent information on housing needs at the local level; • Seeking to ensure that all housing developments are designed to be capable of adaptation to accommodate lifestyle changes, including the needs of the elderly and people with disabilities, and to achieve the Lifetime Homes standard; • Supporting the provision of housing for vulnerable people and specialist housing provision, including nursing homes, residential and extra care facilities, in appropriate locations and where there is an identified need; • Ensuring that all new open market housing development makes appropriate contributions to the provision of local needs affordable housing having regard to the current prevailing target rate, set using the Shropshire Viability Index and the viability of developments taking into account Policy CS9 in respect of infrastructure contributions. For all sites of 5 dwellings and above, the provision of affordable housing will be expected to be on site; • Requiring residential conversion schemes in the countryside, where permitted under Policy CS5, except listed buildings, to contribute to the provision of local needs affordable housing and make the appropriate infrastructure contribution in accordance with Policy CS9 (subject to economic viability); • Permitting exception schemes for local needs affordable housing on suitable sites in and adjoining Shrewsbury, Market Towns and Other Key Centres, Community Hubs, Community Clusters and recognisable named settlements, subject to suitable scale, design, tenure and prioritisation for local people and arrangements to ensure affordability in perpetuity.

Gypsy and Traveller Provision

The accommodation needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople will be addressed as part of meeting the housing needs of all sectors of the community, by: • Allocating sites to meet identified needs having regard to best practice guidance; • Supporting suitable development proposals for sites close to Shrewsbury, the Market Towns and Key Centres, and Community Hubs and Community Clusters; • Supporting suitable development proposals for small exception sites (under 5 pitches) in accordance with Policy CS5, where a strong local connection is demonstrated; • Identifying a site for Travelling Showpeople in North-West Shropshire; • Ensuring that all sites are reasonably accessible to services and facilities, incorporate suitable design and screening, have suitable access and areas for manoeuvring caravans and parking for all essential uses, make provision for essential business uses and recreational facilities as appropriate. All sites must comply with the requirements of policy CS6 and critical infrastructure provision of policy CS9 where appropriate.

Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury will be developed as the strategic focus for development in Shropshire, enabling the town to fulfil its roles as the County Town and sub-regional centre, and as a balanced and sustainable place and community. The strategy for Shrewsbury will be taken forward through an integrated approach, addressing: A comprehensive approach to the town's strategic function and role, with: • The Shrewsbury Northern Corridor will be improved in accordance with the aims of the Northern Corridor Regeneration Framework, with the restoration and redevelopment of the Ditherington Flaxmill site and the enhancement of major existing commercial, employment and mixed use areas a priority; • Shrewsbury's strategy will recognise the need for the continuing development of high quality business parks on the edge of the town centre and the periphery of the town, including the Battlefield Enterprise Park and Shrewsbury and Oxon Business Parks, and the importance of the Meole Brace and Sundorne retail parks, both of which have scope for enhancement and expansion, if required; • Shrewsbury will be a major focus within Shropshire for the provision of infrastructure and services to meet the needs of the town and its wider catchment area, with current priorities set out in the LDF Implementation Plan; • Shrewsbury's priorities for the allocation/release of land for development will be: - Making best use of previously developed land and buildings for housing and other uses within the built up area, especially sites contributing to the enhancement of the town centre, the redevelopment of edge-of-centre areas, and the regeneration of the Shrewsbury Northern Corridor; - Bringing forward, on a phased and planned basis, two sustainable urban extensions providing 25% of Shrewsbury's housing growth and 50% of its employment growth: • Shrewsbury South – land off Thieves Lane/Oteley Road/Hereford Road as illustrated on the Key Diagram, to incorporate the expansion of Shrewsbury Business Park (approximately 4 hectares of employment land), the development of a new strategic employment site (approximately 22 hectares) on land adjoining the Shrewsbury Town Football Club, scope for the expansion of Meole Brace Retail Park, if required, and other commercial uses, A5 junction improvements, if needed, and sustainable transport measures, major housing development (approximately 900 dwellings to the north and south of Oteley Road) and green infrastructure improvements (including the Rea Brook Valley); • Shrewsbury West – land at Bicton Heath and off Welshpool Road as illustrated on the Key Diagram, to incorporate major housing development (approximately 700 dwellings to the north of Welshpool Road), additional employment land (approximately 9-12 hectares), the provision of a new link road connecting Churncote Island on the A5 to Holyhead Road, enhancement of Park and Ride facilities and other sustainable transport improvements, scope for additional health and care facility development, and the provision of new community facilities. - Other sustainable housing land releases on the edges of Shrewsbury, identified in the SAMDev DPD, to provide the balance of housing land required; • In recognition of the special character of the town and its particular environmental challenges, the development of the town will have regard to: - the Shrewsbury Integrated Transport Strategy as advanced through the Shropshire Local Transport Plan, and the proposed Shrewsbury North West Relief Road; - flood risk management, based on the Shropshire Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, that protects and enhances the corridor of the River Severn and its tributaries and enables development appropriate to the flood risk; - the promotion, conservation and enhancement of the town's natural and historic features, heritage assets, green corridors and spaces, and environmental quality, including the corridors of the River Severn and its tributaries, the town centre and the registered battlefield.

The Market Towns and Other Key Centres

The Market Towns and other Key Centres will maintain and enhance their roles in providing facilities and services to their rural hinterlands, and providing foci for economic development and regeneration. Balanced housing and employment development, of an appropriate scale and design that respects each town's distinctive character and is supported by improvements in infrastructure, will take place within the towns' development boundaries and on sites allocated for development. North West Shropshire Oswestry will provide a focus for major development. To accommodate growth, land allocations will include a comprehensively planned, integrated and sustainable urban extension to the south east of Oswestry, on land between Shrewsbury Road, Middleton Road and the A5/A483 Oswestry bypass, as illustrated on the Key Diagram. This strategic location will accommodate a mix of new housing (750+ dwellings), employment land (4-6 hectare Business Park), a local centre, a network of open space and green infrastructure, and a new link Road between Shrewsbury Road and Middleton Road, together with sustainable transport improvements. Ellesmere will have development to support local business development, recognising its high quality landscape particularly the environmental and historic assets of the meres and the canal. North East Shropshire Market Drayton will have substantial development that balances business development with housing development and enhances the town's infrastructure and facilities and its role as a centre for food production. Whitchurch will have substantial development, recognising its accessible location on the highway and rail network, maintaining and enhancing its vibrant town centre and balancing business and housing development. Wem will have development to strengthen its economic role and support and enhance its important community assets and to maintain its role as a sustainable place. Central Shropshire Minsterley and Pontesbury as a combined key centre will accommodate development to enhance their linked roles providing employment and services in the local area, whilst retaining their distinctive and separate identities. Southern Shropshire Ludlow will provide a focus for development, whilst respecting its historic character. Craven Arms will have development as a local growth point in the A49 corridor, growing its role in providing services and employment opportunities for the local area. Church Stretton, Bishop's Castle and Cleobury Mortimer will have development that balances environmental constraints with meeting local needs. Eastern Shropshire Bridgnorth will provide a focus for development within the constraints of its location on the edge of the Green Belt and on the River Severn. Shifnal and Albrighton will have development to meet local needs, respecting their location in the Green Belt. No changes will be made to Green Belt boundaries. Some of the development to meet the needs of returning military personnel will be accommodated in Shifnal and Albrighton, if required. Broseley and Highley will have development that balances environmental constraints with meeting local needs. Much Wenlock will have limited development that reflects its important service and employment centre role whilst retaining its historic character. Cross-boundary proposals Shropshire will work with adjoining local authorities where settlements adjoining Shropshire require cross-boundary opportunities to meet their needs for sustainable development, including, but not limited to, sites around Burford in relation to the growth of Tenbury Wells, sites in Shropshire in relation to growth in adjoining Knighton and the Ironbridge power station site in relation to proposals for Ironbridge and Telford.

Community Hubs and Community Clusters

In the rural area, communities will become more sustainable by: • Focusing private and public investment in the rural area into Community Hubs and Community Clusters, and not allowing development outside these settlements unless it meets policy CS5; • Allowing development in Community Hubs and Community Clusters that helps rebalance rural communities by providing facilities, economic development or housing for local needs, and is of a scale that is appropriate to the settlement; • Ensuring that market housing development makes sufficient contribution to improving local sustainability through a suitable mix of housing that caters for local needs and by delivering community benefits in the form of contributions to affordable housing for local people and contributions to identified requirements for facilities, services and infrastructure. The priorities for community benefit will be identified in partnership with the community; • Ensuring that all development in Community Hubs and Community Clusters is of a scale and design that is sympathetic to the character of the settlement and its environs, and satisfies policy CS6. Community Hubs and Community Clusters are identified in the SAMDev DPD.

Shrewsbury – Development Strategy

A comprehensive and co-ordinated approach will be pursued to the planning and development of Shrewsbury. The approach, encapsulated by the Shrewsbury Vision, integrates elements of housing, economic, transport, community and environmental policy, and will enable the town to achieve a significant level of housing and economic growth linked with infrastructure improvements, whilst protecting and enhancing the town's role, character and the unique qualities of its historic built and natural environment. • Shrewsbury will provide the primary focus for development for Shropshire, providing approximately 25% of its additional housing for the period 2006-2026 (approximately 6,500 dwellings - 325 dwellings per annum) and 90 hectares of employment land; • Shrewsbury will develop its role as Shropshire's primary retail, office and commercial centre, and the vitality and viability of the town centre will be promoted, protected and enhanced. The Riverside and West End areas of the town centre will be redevelopment priorities; • The Shrewsbury Northern Corridor will be improved in accordance with the aims of the Northern Corridor Regeneration Framework, with the restoration and redevelopment of the Ditherington Flaxmill site and the enhancement of major existing commercial, employment and mixed use areas a priority; • Shrewsbury's strategy will recognise the need for the continuing development of high quality business parks on the edge of the town centre and the periphery of the town, including the Battlefield Enterprise Park and Shrewsbury and Oxon Business Parks, and the importance of the Meole Brace and Sundorne retail parks, both of which have scope for enhancement and expansion, if required; • Shrewsbury will be a major focus within Shropshire for the provision of infrastructure and services to meet the needs of the town and its wider catchment area, with current priorities set out in the LDF Implementation Plan; • Shrewsbury's priorities for the allocation/release of land for development will be: - Making best use of previously developed land and buildings for housing and other uses within the built up area, especially sites contributing to the enhancement of the town centre, the redevelopment of edge-of-centre areas, and the regeneration of the Shrewsbury Northern Corridor; - Bringing forward, on a phased and planned basis, two sustainable urban extensions providing 25% of Shrewsbury's housing growth and 50% of its employment growth

Facilities, Services and Infrastructure Provision

The development of sustainable places in Shropshire with safe and healthy communities where residents enjoy a high quality of life will be assisted by: • Protecting and enhancing existing facilities, services and amenities that contribute to the quality of life of residents and visitors; • Preserving and improving access to facilities and services wherever possible, including access to information and communication technologies (ICT), throughout Shropshire; • Facilitating the timely provision of additional facilities, services and infrastructure to meet identified needs, as outlined in the LDF Implementation Plan whether arising from new developments or existing community need, in locations that are appropriate and accessible; • Positively encouraging infrastructure, where this has no significant adverse impact on recognised environmental assets, that mitigates and adapts to climate change, including decentralised, low carbon and renewable energy generation, and working closely with network providers to ensure provision of necessary energy distribution networks.

Infrastructure Contributions

Development that provides additional dwellings or employment premises will help deliver more sustainable communities by making contributions to local infrastructure in proportion to its scale and the sustainability of its location, in the following order of priority: 1 Critical infrastructure that is necessary to ensure adequate provision of essential utilities, facilities, water management and safe access for the development including that identified in the LDF Implementation Plan; 2 Priority infrastructure, as identified in the LDF Implementation Plan, including contributions from residential developments towards affordable housing as required to meet Policy CS11 Type and Affordability of Housing; 3 Key infrastructure as identified in the LDF Implementation Plan.

Waste Management Infrastructure

Sustainable waste management facilities and services will help to deliver greater resource efficiency for communities and businesses. This will be achieved by: • Encouraging proposals for additional capacity to divert waste away from landfill in a way consistent with the waste hierarchy and the principles and targets of national, regional and local policies and strategies, including the principle of 'equivalent self sufficiency' and an allowance for cross boundary waste flows; • Identifying specific sites to deliver additional waste transfer, recycling and recovery facilities to address the capacity gap of about 150,000 tonnes/year identified in RSS. Sites will be allocated as part of the SAMDev DPD in accessible locations close to the main urban areas within the broad locations identified in Figure 9. Outside these broad locations, Shropshire Council will support applications for smaller scale waste facilities capable of meeting local needs in locations which are consistent with the principles and site identification criteria set out in national and regional policy; • Supporting the co-location of waste facilities and the integration of new waste facilities or space in the design of new development; • Requiring applications for all types of development to include information about the management of waste during their construction and subsequent operation as part of the completion of the sustainability checklist required by Policy CS6; • Ensuring that the continued operation of existing waste management facilities in locations which are consistent with the site identification criteria for new sites is safeguarded, including against the encroachment of incompatible uses, in a way consistent with Policy CS8 and national and regional guidance.

Strategic Planning for Minerals

Shropshire's important and finite mineral resources will be safeguarded to avoid unnecessary sterilisation and there will be a sustainable approach to mineral working which balances environmental considerations against the need to maintain an adequate and steady supply of minerals to meet the justifiable needs of the economy and society. This will be achieved by: • Protecting Mineral Safeguarding Areas (MSA's) and rail freight facilities which could contribute to the sustainable transport of minerals. The broad extent of MSA's is defined in Figure 10. Non-mineral development in these areas or near protected railfreight sites will be expected to avoid sterilising or unduly restricting the working of proven mineral resources, or the operation of mineral transport facilities, consistent with the requirements of national and regional policy; • Encourage greater resource efficiency by supporting the development and retention of waste recycling facilities which will improve the availability and quality of secondary and recycled aggregates in appropriate locations as set out in Policy CS 19; • Maintaining landbanks of permitted reserves for aggregates consistent with the requirements of national policy guidance. Shropshire will provide for an appropriate contribution to the sub-regional apportionments for sand and gravel and crushed rock and proposes to maintain the current level of production and current percentage regional contribution, unless and until robust evidence is available which indicates that higher levels of production are required. 'Broad locations' for the future working of sand and gravel are identified in Figure 11. Sites capable of helping to deliver the sub-regional target for sand and gravel will be allocated within these areas in the SAMDev DPD; • Only supporting proposals for sand and gravel working outside these broad locations and existing permitted reserves, where this would prevent the sterilisation of resources, or where significant environmental benefits would be obtained, or where the proposed site would be significantly more acceptable overall than the allocated sites; • Supporting environmentally acceptable development which facilitates the production of other mineral resources such as crushed rock, clay and building stone to meet both local needs, including locally distinctive materials, and to help meet cross boundary requirements. Environmentally acceptable proposals for the exploration, appraisal and production of hydrocarbon resources, including coalbed methane, will be supported as a contribution to meeting the requirements of national energy policy; • Priority will be given to environmentally acceptable restoration and aftercare proposals which can deliver targeted environmental or community benefits consistent with Policies CS8, CS17 and CS18. More detailed policies against which applications for mineral development can be assessed will be provided in the SAMDev DPD.

Town and Rural Centres

Development and other measures will maintain and enhance the vitality and viability of Shropshire's network of town and rural centres, and, within the context of the strategic approach (Policies CS1-CS5), support the delivery of appropriate comparison and convenience retail; office; leisure; entertainment and cultural facilities. In accordance with national planning policy, and having taken into account sequential and impact assessments where relevant, town centres will be the preferred location for new retail, office and other town centre uses. Shrewsbury, the strategic centre, will be the preferred location for major comparison retail, large scale office and other uses attracting large numbers of people. Provision will be made for the following amounts of additional floorspace to be developed: • 50,000 m2 gross comparison retail floorspace (2006 – 2021); • 30,000 m2 gross comparison retail floorspace (2021 – 2026); • 20,000 m2 gross office floorspace provision (2006 – 2026). In delivering these targets, and in following a sequential approach to site selection, priority will be given to identifying and delivering town centre and edge of centre redevelopment opportunities before less central locations are considered. The Riverside and West End regeneration areas are considered to be the main opportunities for improving the offer for retail and office uses within the town centre. The Market Towns of Oswestry; Market Drayton; Whitchurch; Ludlow; and Bridgnorth will act as principal centres to serve local needs and the wider service and employment needs of communities within their respective spatial zones. Appropriate convenience and comparison retail, office, and other town centre uses will be permitted to support these roles. The Key Centres of Albrighton; Bishop's Castle; Broseley; Church Stretton; Cleobury Mortimer; Craven Arms; Ellesmere; Highley; Much Wenlock; Shifnal; and Wem, and the combined key centre of Minsterley and Pontesbury will act as district centres within their respective spatial zones, serving the needs of their immediate rural hinterlands. Where appropriate to the role and function of each identified centre, development will be encouraged to: • Support a balanced approach to the planned level of housing and employment growth for each town; • Support improvements to the accessibility of town centres, including from surrounding rural areas; • Positively contribute to the delivery of wider investment, regeneration and town centre management strategies; • Positively contribute to the mix and diversity of uses within town centres, without undermining their primary retail function; • Support the appropriate re-use or regeneration of land and premises The provision of neighbourhood based local shopping and other community facilities will be supported where this will help consolidate and improve existing provision or will serve significant new developments, including the proposed sustainable urban extensions in Shrewsbury and Oswestry. The rebalancing of rural settlements will be supported by the protection and improvement of existing day to day services and facilities within Shropshire's network of villages. Proposals for new services and facilities that make a positive contribution towards the ability of a settlement to act as a Community Hub, or as part of a wider Community Cluster will be encouraged.

Tourism, Culture and Leisure

To deliver high quality, sustainable tourism, and cultural and leisure development, which enhances the vital role that these sectors play for the local economy, benefits local communities and visitors, and is sensitive to Shropshire's intrinsic natural and built environment qualities, emphasis will be placed on: • Supporting new and extended tourism development, and cultural and leisure facilities, that are appropriate to their location, and enhance and protect the existing offer within Shropshire; • Promoting connections between visitors and Shropshire's natural, cultural and historic environment, including through active recreation, access to heritage trails and parkland, and an enhanced value of local food, drink and crafts; • Supporting development that promotes opportunities for accessing, understanding and engaging with Shropshire's landscape, cultural and historic assets including the Shropshire Hills AONB, rights-of-way network, canals, rivers and meres & mosses. Development must also meet the requirements of Policy CS17; • Supporting appropriate regeneration schemes and tourism development proposals that seek to enhance the economic, social and cultural value of canals and heritage railways including: ◦ Shropshire Union Canal ◦ Shropshire Union Canal - Llangollen branch ◦ Shropshire Union Canal - Montgomery branch ◦ The Severn Valley Railway ◦ The Cambrian Railway • Promoting and preserving the distinctive historic, heritage brand and values of Shrewsbury, the Market Towns and rural areas; • Supporting schemes aimed at diversifying the rural economy for tourism, cultural and leisure uses that are appropriate in terms of their location, scale and nature, which retain and enhance existing natural features where possible, and do not harm Shropshire's tranquil nature; • Development of high quality visitor accommodation in accessible locations served by a range of services and facilities, which enhances the role of Shropshire as a tourist destination to stay. In rural areas, proposals must be of an appropriate scale and character for their surroundings, be close to or within settlements, or an established and viable tourism enterprise where accommodation is required. Where possible, existing buildings should be re-used (development must also accord with Policy CS5).

Communications and Transport

A sustainable pattern of development requires the maintenance and improvement of integrated, accessible, attractive, safe and reliable communication and transport infrastructure and services. These need to provide a range of opportunities for communication and transport which meet social, economic and environmental objectives by improving accessibility, managing the need to travel, offering options for different travel needs and reducing the impacts of transport. This will be achieved by: Promoting greater awareness of travel behaviour to encourage more informed choices about communication, the need to travel and alternative travel options; Promoting the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to reduce the impacts of individual travel decisions at work, at home and for leisure; Facilitating enterprise and improved access to services and information using ICT/broadband technologies especially by managing the development of fixed and mobile ICT infrastructure and enabling local access to ICT facilities; Protecting and enhancing strategic and local cycling, footpath, bridleway and canal networks as local transport routes and for recreation and leisure use; Enabling the provision of accessible, affordable and demand responsive passenger transport services including bus, Park & Ride, rail, coach, taxi, community transport services and car sharing initiatives; Promoting rail related developments to support the sub-regional role of Shrewsbury and the role of Market Towns and other rail linked centres and increasing choice of destinations and service frequency and travel times. This will require rail infrastructure and service improvements especially along the A5/M54 rail corridor including the possible development of a Parkway Station for Shrewsbury; Promoting and enabling improvements to the strategic and local highway network including improvements to the A5 Shrewsbury and Oswestry bypasses and promotion of the Shrewsbury North West Relief Road; Facilitating freight movements through the County road and rail networks especially along the A5 and the A49 and to encourage greater freight movements by rail.