What is happening now/next?

After the consultation period was extended to the 26th October, Boningale Homes submitted more documents on various aspects including landscape and visual impact, the Public Consultation objections, planning policy, flood risk & drainage. During the same period objections from AVAG and the public rose to a total of 1120! 

How and when will the decision be made?  It will be made by the Shropshire Council planning officer - Lynn Parker and her team; and probably by the 11 Shropshire Councillors of the Shropshire South Planning Committee.  She could make the decision by ‘delegated authority’ - but this is unlikely given how large and contentious Boningale Homes' proposals are. The decision is likely to be made at a 'Shropshire South Planning Committee Meeting' date within the next few months

Keep an eye on these links for more details:

• Committee dates: https://shropshire.gov.uk/committee-services/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=127
• Planning Application progress: https://pa.shropshire.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=SEB9ACTDI3500&activeTab=summary

 If Planning Application is granted: There is a 6 week period for those opposing the decision to apply for a Judicial Review challenge on the grounds that the decision was legally flawed.

If Planning Application is refused: Boningale Homes would have the option to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. This is a full redetermination of the application by an independent planning inspector – based on the planning merits of the application itself. Given the size of this application it is most likely that this would be dealt with at a public inquiry. This process would take many months and be extremely difficult for Albrighton and everyone involved.

Objectors could chose to engage with a public inquiry in two ways: 

• Appeal Option 1 is to engage as members of the public, submitting additional representations, and registering to speak at a specific session of the inquiry which is expressly set aside for residents to address the inspector. This can be done with professional representation – and all earlier objections will be provided to the Inspector as a matter of course. 
• Appeal Option 2 is to become a formal party to the process (known as a Rule 6 Party) which gives the right to prepare evidence, call and cross examine witnesses, and generally be a full participant in the appeal. 

AVAG are closely monitoring progress of the planning application; and the implications, costs and timings of all options. We will keep you updated as events progress.

• IMPORTANT UPDATE: 

The Stage 2 Hearings started on the 15th of October. Participants included Shropshire Council, the Government’s Planning Inspectorate, and developers, as well as organisations opposing the Local Plan. AVAG supports it. We were all expecting them to be continuing into early December, however events took an unexpected turn…

AVAG attended the key sessions in the first two weeks, and witnessed extensive technical evidence submitted by organisations and developers including Boningale Homes, much of this attacking the Council’s strategy. Shropshire Council Planning Policy Team led by Eddie West held its own in response, answered strongly and defended themselves throughout. The Examining Inspectors led by Louise Crosby appeared to be patient, impartial and professional. Then a few days later the Planning Inspectors wrote to Shropshire Council (ID46) saying that they have ‘significant concerns about the soundness of the Plan in respect of a number of areas’. They said that they would explain these concerns in detail in a letter as soon as possible. We will monitor this closely and publish the details here and on our Facebook Group as soon as we know them. 

• See our sub page for more information on what the Local Plan is and why it is so important here
• The process to produce the latest Local plan started back in 2017 - but it isn’t finished yet and still has a long way to go! 
• The last step was the 6 week public consultation on Shropshire Council’s updated local plan information which finished on 11th June 2024. Albrighton residents submitted well over 150 responses to this which made up about a third of those submitted in the whole of Shropshire

Examination Stage 2 Hearing Sessions. ON HOLD. Members of the public are welcome to attend these hearing sessions when they restart. AVAG will be trying to attend the key sessions - watch out for updates on progress. 

• Where are the sessions: October sessions are in Shirehall, November sessions in Guidhall and December are online
• Hearing times: Sessions commence at 9.30am and 1.30pm.
• Inspectors: Louise Crosby MA MRTPI & Elaine Worthington MTP MUED MRTPI IHBC
• More info: https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/planning-policy/local-planning/local-plan-review/draft-shropshire-local-plan-2016-2038-examination/examination-calendar/

https://shropshire.gov.uk/planning-policy/local-planning/local-plan-review/

• The original schedule for the Hearing sessions can be seen here. click here. Please note that a new schedule will be published to replace this as and when the hearings restart.   The key sessions including those attended by Boningale Homes are highlighted yellow, and the Albrighton session is highlighted in green 

 When will the decision be made whether to adopt the Shropshire Local Plan? We think that the decision could be made in Early to Mid 2025; however it could be made earlier -

Scenario 1: If the Local Plan is NOT adopted (possible worst case scenario)

• This will leave Shropshire open to speculative developments
• Work on the next Shropshire Local Plan will need to start again with a call for sites from developers. This would open up lots of new debates about potential developments around Albrighton - at the same time as speculative planning applications being submitted! 
• There is small chance that if the hearing doesn’t go well then this scenario could happen earlier than Early to Mid 2025

Scenario 2: If the Local Plan IS adopted BUT with changes required:

• Shropshire Council could be asked to propose changes to the Local Plan and these may be put out to Public Consultation to ask your views on this again
• The Government Inspector may also say that work has to start work on the next Local Plan immediately. If this happens a new Call For Sites will have to start; probably later in 2025. See above
• The government is keen for the Local Plan process to take about three years under the new NPPF regime so it may be finished by 2028

Scenario 3: If the local plan is adopted and NO changes are required:

• The adopted Local Plan would theoretically not need to be redone until the 2030s. However this seems unlikely given the new NPPF proposals