Stuart Anderson, South Shropshire’s Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, is encouraging residents in Tasley to have their say on future developments in the area. He recently met with leaders from Tasley Parish Council, including the Chair Susan Howle, to find out more about the draft Neighbourhood Development Plan, which is being drawn up by a Steering Committee comprising of parish councillors and local residents, assisted by an independent planning consultant and officers from Shropshire Council. Once adopted, the document will be used when determining future planning applications. The consultation is open until the 14th February, providing residents with the opportunity to have their say on how the community will develop in the coming years. Stuart said he wants to ensure development is brought forward in a way that works best for local people in Tasley, which is why the consultation is important.
Stuart welcomed the Parish Council’s work to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan for Tasley, giving the community direct power to develop a shared vision for the area - with the opportunity to get involved in the detail. It means that residents can have their say on where they want new homes, shops, and offices to be built, what those new buildings should look like, and what infrastructure should be provided. This will help to ensure that future developments enhance the environment and are built beautifully with infrastructure such as GP surgeries, schools, and transport links.
Decision takers are required to determine planning applications in accordance with the development plan (including any neighbourhood plan) unless material considerations indicate otherwise - taking into account cumulative impacts on the environment, communities, and the economy. The Government has said that having plans in place unlock land for homes, hospitals and GP centres, schools, libraries, and much more – laying the foundations for the country’s economic growth and the levelling up of communities for decades to come.
Neighbourhood Plans also provide greater certainty for communities, businesses, and developers - enabling local areas to set out their vision for future development and the approach towards protecting and enhancing local character, as well as securing community buy-in. Each application is then judged on its own individual merit and the weight attached to a particular consideration is a matter of judgment for the local authority as the decision-maker in the first instance.
Stuart Anderson said: “Neighbourhood plans empower communities to shape what their areas will look like: the homes we live in, the schools our children go to, and the green spaces we visit. That’s why I welcome this consultation to place the voice of Tasley residents at the heart of decision-making about future developments in the area.”
Stuart added: “It is crucial for residents to have the confidence that their views will be considered when it comes to considering applications for new developments which come forward. So I am urging all residents in the local community to have their say over future developments in Tasley by taking part in this important consultation. It is only through up-to-date plans that we can deliver for our local communities.”
The survey is available online until 14th February this year at https://sites.google.com/view/tasleysurvey/home.
The plan document said: “Tasley is an area due for significant residential development over the next 10 years. Tasley Gateway which is off Church Lane is currently awaiting outline planning permission for a development which will ultimately consist of around 550 homes. Also, the Draft Shropshire Local Plan includes provision for Tasley Garden Village, a 1500 home development, to be located near the Ludlow Road traffic Island running parallel to the A458. The neighbourhood plan could influence how these developments are planned and built.”
