What SAMDev plans say about Ludlow – the full details

S10: Ludlow Area

Ludlow SAMDev policy maps

S10.1 Ludlow town strategy

1. As the largest market town in southern Shropshire, Ludlow will be a focus for development and will continue to play an important role in providing facilities and services for the wider area. The guideline for growth in the town is for around 875 new dwellings and a minimum of 6 ha of employment land between 2006 and 2026;

2. New housing development will be delivered primarily on the allocated housing sites east of the A49, set out in schedule S10.1a and identified on the Policies Map, alongside additional infill and windfall development within the town’s development boundary;

3. To foster economic development and to help deliver a balance between new housing and local employment opportunities, two specific site allocations for new employment land adjacent to the Ludlow Eco Park are set out in Schedule S10.1b and identified on the Policies Map. They are capable of accommodating a range of employment uses. Other appropriate brownfield opportunities for employment use within the town will also be supported. As an important employment area for the wider hinterland, existing employment areas are safeguarded for employment use in accordance with Policy MD9;

4. To support Ludlow’s role as a Principal Centre, new main town centre uses will be focussed within the defined town centre area and Primary Shopping Area identified on the Polices Map, and will be subject to Policies CS15 and MD10;

5. Development proposals will be expected to take account of infrastructure constraints and requirements, as identified within the LDF Implementation Plan and Place Plans and positively contribute towards local infrastructure improvements, including the provision of community benefits in accordance with Policies CS8 and CS9;

6. All development should have regard to the setting of the historic core of the town recognising the importance of Ludlow Castle as an historic asset of national and international significance.

S10.1a Housing Sites

Development of the allocated housing sites identified on the Policies Map should be in accordance with Policies CS6, CS9 and CS11, Policies MD2, MD3 and MD8, and the developer guidelines and approximate site provision figures set out in this schedule.

S10.1b Employment Sites

Development of the allocated employment sites identified on the Policies Map should be in accordance with Policies CS6, CS9, and CS14, Policies MD2, MD4 and MD8, and the development guidelines and approximate site provision areas set out in this schedule.

Explanatory Text

5.100 Ludlow is the largest market town in southern Shropshire situated midway between Shrewsbury and Hereford. It acts as a major local important employment and service centre for the wider area. The A49 is a crucial north/south transport route and the town benefits from a railway station on the Crewe-Cardiff line. Physical constraints to development in the town include the Rivers Corve and Teme and their tributaries and the setting of its historic core. The medieval Ludlow castle and the town walls are Scheduled Ancient Monuments and the town also has a large number of listed buildings and four Conservation Areas. These historical assets contribute to Ludlow’s role as a tourism destination;

5.101 Core Strategy Policy CS3 identifies that Ludlow will be a focus for development in the south of the County whilst respecting its historic character. To reflect this role the town has a growth aspiration of around 875 houses and a minimum of 6 ha of new employment land between 2006 and 2026. Since 517 homes have already been built since 2006 or are committed for development, the Plan now needs to make provision for about a further 358 new homes to help deliver the housing requirement during the period 2006-2026;

5.102 The allocations will deliver around 280 dwellings. Development has taken place east of the A49 in recent years with the affordable housing exception site at Rocks Green and the successful development of business uses at Ludlow Eco Park. The allocations help to protect the importance of the southern approach to the town for the setting of the historic core, and avoid large areas of flood risk associated with the river corridors. There are also potential longer term opportunities in this broad location east of the A49 between the Eco Park and Rocks Green for new development post 2026. Both allocations support the potential to enable, rather than stifle, future development in this area. Any potential development in this broad location is not expected to take place until after 2026;

5.103 In addition to the allocations, there are some opportunities for the development of windfall sites within the existing town boundary, which will assist delivery of the residential growth, particularly when the significant amount of development that has already received planning permission, or has been built since 2006, is taken into account;

5.104 Ludlow plays a role as a significant employment centre for the wider area. In addition to safeguarding existing employment sites, a continued supply of employment land is required to support and enhance this role. The Eco Park has developed into a recognised business area following significant public investment and its location off the A49 provides strategic locational benefits. Allocation for further expansion of employment uses at the Ludlow Eco Park will help to provide balanced development over the Plan Period. The allocated employment sites in Schedule S10.1b above will complement the committed urban employment sites set out in Schedule S10.1c below to provide a range and choice of economic development opportunities in the town.

S10.1c Committed Urban Employment Sites

5.105 The Shropshire Community Heath Trust announced in September 2013 that they would not be moving hospital facilities to a new healthcare facility proposed at northern end of the Eco Park. At the same time they announced a commitment to invest in retaining services at the current hospital at Gravel Hill. With the announcement that the new healthcare will not proceed the proposed location is safeguarded for B1 employment use in line with the existing uses at the Eco Park. A range of other sites in the town are safeguarded for employment use under MD9 including the Ludlow Business Park and Weeping Cross Lane;

5.106 All development will need to take account of known infrastructure constraints and requirements, as identified within the Place Plan and LDF Implementation Plan. For Ludlow this includes sewerage network infrastructure and hydraulic capacity at the waste water treatment works. Development should be phased appropriately to take account of critical infrastructure delivery and seek to positively contribute towards local infrastructure improvements, including the provision of community benefits in accordance with Policies CS8 and CS9;

5.107 The town will build on its role as a Principal Centre (in line with Policy CS15). Proposals for retail and other main town centre uses in Ludlow will need to satisfy the policy requirements in Policies CS15 and MD10.

Amendments

Following the final consultation on SAMDev, a number of amendments are to be made across the county. This includes a change for Ludlow.

3 Primary Shopping Areas: Indigo Planning, on behalf of Mrs D Prosser, propose a change to the extent of the proposed Primary Shopping Area (PSA) for Ludlow. This would remove Upper Galdeford and Tower Street from the PSA, whilst retaining the rest of the proposed PSA area. They consider Tower Street to have a greater mix of uses and that its identification would be overly restrictive towards retail.

Response: Proposed Change. Amend the Policies Inset Map for Ludlow to remove Tower Street from the PSA, but retain the existing premises of One Stop and Sommerfield [sic] within the PSA. It is agreed that this would more appropriately reflect the mix of uses along Tower Street whilst maintaining suitable policy management over two centrally located retail units.