Aim: To conserve and enhance the Borough's historic buildings and archaeological assets ensuring new development has minimal environmental impacts and maintains local distinctiveness.

Current forecasts suggest that more than 4,000 additional dwellings will need to be provided in the Borough by 2011. Even if the potential to re-use existing buildings is maximised, it will not be sufficient to meet the predicted demand for additional living space. Inevitably, this will lead to the construction of new buildings. The challenge will be to minimise any detrimental effects that this might have on the environment and, where possible, use this as an opportunity to enhance it.

Important Issues to address

• Loss of greenfield sites to development.
• Quality of new development, contemporary design and use.
• Re-use of existing buildings (especially historic buildings).
• Impact of traffic on the historic townscape.
• High cost of maintaining historic buildings.
• Awareness of the Borough's historic assets.
• Impact of flooding.
• Re-use of land contaminated by previous usage.

Key Objectives

• To minimise new build on green field sites.
• To ensure that new development is of a good quality (not just in terms of design, but also materials, build quality etc.).
• To promote the re-use of buildings, particularly listed buildings.
• To reduce the number of listed buildings at risk.
• To minimise the impact of traffic on the historic townscape of Shrewsbury and other settlements.
• To assist in the maintenance of historic buildings.
• To develop a pride in and enjoyment of the Borough's unique architectural heritage.
• To ensure that our historic assets are protected and, where possible, enhanced.
• To reduce the impact of flooding on both existing and proposed homes and businesses.
• To promote the use of sustainable building materials.

Actions

• Control the development of greenfield sites - seek to achieve 40% of new housing on previously developed sites.
• Produce new design guidance to ensure a good standard of design that respects the surroundings.
• Encourage local communities to undertake village design statements - aim to complete two by 2003.
• Develop an action plan to find new uses for buildings at risk by summer 2002.
• Ensure that all listed buildings that are at risk are appropriately registered by spring 2003.
• Support development of listed buildings to ensure that they remain viable.
• Reduce the impact of traffic on the historic centre by reviewing and then implementing the Local Transport Plan.
• Publicise the grants that are available to help with the cost of repairs to listed buildings.
• Ensure that Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council's Local Plan policies to protect the character and setting of the Borough's 17 conservation areas and more than 2000 listed buildings are applied.
• Raise awareness about the importance of conserving and enhancing the Borough's historic assets.
• Ensure the appropriate interpretation (appreciation and understanding) of the Borough's historic buildings and archaeological assets and explore innovative approaches to that interpretation.
• Undertake the Quarry Enhancement Scheme.
• Continue work on the two major Heritage Environment Regeneration Schemes already identified.
• Produce supplementary planning guidance on the appropriate use of sustainable drainage systems in order to minimise surface water run-off.
• Continue to implement the flood alleviation scheme in Shrewsbury.
• Continue to review the contaminated land strategy which was approved in 2001.

Future Community Involvement

Although we have tried to involve as many people as possible in putting this strategy together, it is unlikely that we have managed to reach everybody. Over the coming year we will involve the community in further development of the strategy 

Monitoring

To include:

Links to other strands of the strategy

• The economy.
• Social inclusion.
• Transport.
• Learning and skills.

Partners in Delivery

• Countryside Agency
• Developers
• English Heritage
• Environment Agency
• Parish Councils
• Residents Groups and Associations
• Severnside Housing
• Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council
• Shrewsbury Civic Society
• Shropshire Care and Repair Home Improvement Agency
• Shropshire County Council
• Stonham Housing Association
• Voluntary Groups and Organisations