Much Wenlock Neighbourhood Plan

Review

The first Much Wenlock Neighbourhood Plan was adopted by Shropshire Council on 17 July 2014. Its plan period ran from 2013 to 2026. In March 2023 the Much Wenlock Parish Council Planning and Environment Committee decided to review the Much Wenlock Neighbourhood Plan. 

Designation

Much Wenlock Town Council chose to use the same neighbourhood area as it had for the original Much Wenlock Neighbourhood Plan. An application by Much Wenlock Town Council to designate a neighbourhood plan area went out for public consultation from 27 June to 10 August 2010. The application was approved by Shropshire Council's cabinet on 12 September 2012.

Consultation

The Regulation 14 public consultation on the draft version of the Much Wenlock Neighbourhood Plan ran from Monday 11 November 2024 to Monday 6 January 2025. More information is available on the Much Wenlock Town Council website.

Submission

Shropshire Council received a submission of the draft Much Wenlock Neighbourhood Plan Review and supporting documents from Much Wenlock Town Council and consulted on these documents in accordance with Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012, from 13 June to 25 July 2025. Further information is available on the Get Involved webpage.

Examination

In August 2025 Timothy Jones, Barrister, FCIArb was appointed as the independent examiner for the plan. He assessed the plan to decide if it met the basic conditions and could proceed to a referendum with modifications. Following a successful examination, the amended plan went to cabinet on 21 January 2026 where it was agreed that the final ‘referendum’ version of the Much Wenlock Neighbourhood Plan Review could proceed to local referendum.

Referendum

A referendum relating to the adoption of the Much Wenlock Neighbourhood Plan Review took place on Thursday 19 March 2026. The result was 90% in favour of Shropshire Council using the reviewed Neighbourhood Plan for Much Wenlock to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area.

Adoption

At its council meeting on 14 May 2026, Shropshire Council resolved to ‘make’ the Much Wenlock Neighbourhood Plan Review.

The ‘making’ of the plan means the plan is adopted and now forms part of the statutory development plan for the area.

The adopted plan can be viewed on this page and on request at our offices at the Guildhall, Shrewsbury.