On 22 November 2023 all designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales became 'National Landscapes'. As such, the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has been renamed the Shropshire Hills National Landscape. Its legal designation and policy status remain the same.
Is the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designation likely to affect my proposed development?
I’m upset about a planning application in the Shropshire Hills National Landscape. What should I do?
Why does the National Landscape Partnership not object to more planning applications?
How does the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designation affect development within a town?
What is the role of the Shropshire Hills National Landscape Partnership in respect of planning matters?
- The Partnership is a non-statutory consultee with regard to planning policies and decisions. Principally through its staff team, the Partnership will provide expert advice to the local authorities on the development of policy and guidance affecting the National Landscape, and on the impact of selected planning applications.
- Whilst both aspects of this work are important, priority is given to policy formulation and the development of supplementary guidance. Comments on planning applications will be limited to significant developments which are likely to have an effect on the natural beauty of the National Landscape, eg. tourism, industrial or transport developments, housing, energy generation or telecommunications.
- Our policy and pro-active work is focussed on input to Local Development Framework Documents, development of additional guidance eg. on design and support for Parish Plans and Village or Town Design Statements.
- The National Landscape Partnership’s Planning Protocol outlines in detail the roles of the Partnership in relation to planning matters.
Is the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designation likely to affect my proposed development?
- If the proposed development might damage or harm the natural beauty and special qualities of the Shropshire Hills National Landscape, it may not be allowed, or it may need to be adapted. To find out more about policies and guidance relevant to your proposal and the likelihood of it being approved, contact the relevant local planning authority.
- To find out if you are within the Shropshire Hills National Landscape check the map on our website. The designation may be a consideration in larger development proposals outside the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty boundary, if the proposals might have a significant impact on the Shropshire Hills National Landscape.
I’m upset about a planning application in the National Landscape. What should I do?
- Your first point of contact should be the local planning authority. You will be able to see details and plans for the application on their website or otherwise at their offices. You will also be able to find out what other comments have been made about the application. Comments from the National Landscape Partnership, and indeed the decisions made by the planning authority, will usually be linked closely to relevant policies or planning guidance, so you may want to find out more about these.
- If you wish to object to an application, this will carry much greater weight if you can refer to approved policies or guidance. You are perfectly entitled to make comments yourself to the local authority on any effect you feel a proposed development may have on the National Landscape. Views from local people are important and local authorities take such comments seriously.
Why does the National Landscape Partnership not object to more planning applications?
- There are approximately 500 planning applications per year in the Shropshire Hills, and the staff team’s capacity is limited. The local planning authorities themselves will consider the impact of proposed development on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and this remains the principal means of informing decisions. National experience from National Landscape Partnerships shows that the limited time of the staff teams is best spent at the proactive end of planning (ie. in the development of policy and guidance).
- Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty have a secondary purpose to promote sustainable forms of development which in themselves support the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty.
How does the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designation affect development within a town?
- The only market town within the Shropshire Hills is Church Stretton (Clun is a much smaller settlement, but now also has a town council). The landscape setting and character of towns within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is usually important, and Church Stretton is certainly no exception. Other designations such as Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings may also be relevant.
- A Town Design Statement was published for Church Stretton in January 2008. This provides an excellent account of the existing character of the town and how new development can be sensitively designed to fit in.
