Joint Structure Plan

What is the Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Joint Structure Plan?
The purpose of Shropshire's Joint Structure Plan is to lay out strategic policies for development and use of land in the County. The plan is set in a context of sustainable development objectives.

The Joint Structure Plan was prepared jointly by Shropshire County Council and Telford & Wrekin Council and was adopted on 14 November 2002.

'Saved' structure plan policies post September 2007
In 2004 the Government introduced a major revision to the English planning system through the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act. This act, amongst other things, abolished the need for County Councils to prepare structure plans, with strategic planning guidance to be provided by the Regional Spatial Strategy prepared by Regional Assemblies instead. All adopted structure plans would remain in force for three years until new style replacement documents were prepared. This meant that Shropshire's Joint Structure Plan was 'saved' until 27 September 2007.

However, the West Midlands Regional Assembly has not yet reached the point where they can adopt replacement policies for a range of issues previously covered by the Joint Structure Plan. It has therefore become necessary to extend the 'saved' period of relevant policies in Shropshire's Joint Structure Plan beyond their current expiry date of the 27 September 2007.

In Shropshire's case the Government has agreed to continue to 'save' 24 policies in the Joint Structure Plan beyond 27 September 2007. The policies which have not been 'saved' beyond this date have now expired. To view the full list of 'saved' policies and to find out more information on this process follow the relevant link on this page. To find out more information on the Regional Spatial Strategy follow the relevant link on this page.

About the plan
The plan:

• establishes the general amount and location of new development
• shows how development relates to transport and other services
• indicates how a balance will be struck between development and the conservation of the countryside, wildlife and important open space
• provides the basis for detailed local planning and co-ordination of services
• shows how national and regional policy will be made to work in the area

The Structure Plan is part of the Development Plan for the area of Shropshire County Council and Telford & Wrekin Council.

The other documents in the Development Plan include:

• the Minerals Local Plan, prepared jointly by the County Council and Telford & Wrekin Council
• the district local plans, prepared by each of the five district councils and Telford & Wrekin Council
• the Waste Local Plan, prepared by the County Council
• and the Regional Spatial Strategy prepared by the West Midlands Regional Assembly

The Development Plan provides the policy framework to guide planning decisions about the use of land in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.

The Written Statement and Explanatory Memorandum
Attached to this page is the Written Statement. It contains the policies and proposals illustrated by a key diagram. It is required by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as amended by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991.

Also attached to this page is the Explanatory Memorandum document. This document contains details of the policies and additional information that justifies the policies and provides background. A Sustainability Appraisal accompanies the Joint Structure Plan in a separate report, which is also attached to this page.

The Joint Structure Plan must be read as a whole. Policies are not in any priority order, thus development proposals may have to be considered against policies in different parts of the plan.