AN UPDATE of future housing and employment developments across Shropshire is unlikely to affect the north of the county.

Cabinet members will be asked to approve a draft consultation document for the Local Plan 2016-2036 when they meet next Wednesday [DEL NOVEMBER 7].

But despite some major changes to most of the county with 70 preferred sites outlined, the Oswestry area is unlikely to see many changes.

The draft plan proposed the creation of 1,800 homes and around 19 hectares of employment land.

Adrian Cooper, planning policy and strategy manager at Shropshire Council, said: “Oswestry may be our second largest town but in the levels proposed in this document there isn’t much inclusion as they have not brought together everything that was planned the last time round.

“There is no point going back for more as we need to get what is already planned to fruition.”

The update has also looked at the greenbelt in the Bridgnorth and Shifnal area which could see land released for the first time in almost 30 years for housing and employment.

Mr Cooper added: “The focus has been on the quantity as in where the housing has been brought forward on an unplanned basis the type of housing hasn’t necessarily been the type of housing needed in that place.

“This policy approach is where you are reacting to what us needed, so working with parish and town councils helping to identify areas.”

If approved the consultation will run for nine weeks ending at the start of 2019, before a second consultation takes place later next year before it goes before the planning inspectorate.

At the same time, Shropshire Council is also looking at establishing a company which would work with developers to construct more affordable housing across the county.

The proposal to develop an outline business case will go before Cabinet next Wednesday and if successful could see the first properties being developed in 2020.

Tim Smith, head of Business Enterprise and Commercial Services, said: “There is evidence that there is a need for more affordable housing in the county.

“The issue is that developers cannot increase the level of affordable housing because of their financial viability.”

He said that by pursuing the new way of working it would help to generate housing that would allow people to live and work in Shropshire.