Neighbourhood Plan

Neighbourhood Plan so far…

The Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group has, since 2015, been working with community representatives to identify priorities for Bewdley’s future, the planning challenges our town faces and possible solutions to these challenges.

Items contained in the plan:

Community and Wellbeing

• To ensure that there are green, open areas in Bewdley Parish for play, recreation, and sports activities to take place

Managing Housing Supply

• To ensure that all future housing development provides a mix of homes to meet identified housing needs and contributes positively to the unique and natural characteristics of the Bewdley Neighbourhood Plan area.

Jobs and the Local Economy

• To maintain a thriving town centre and retail economy.
• To promote business by supporting provision of suitable employment land.
• To preserve and promote Bewdley as a popular market town, with a regular events programme.

Improving the Infrastructure

• To improve traffic flow through the main thoroughfare of the town and seek methods to reduce congestion, pollution, and speeding.
• To improve car parking facilities in and around the town
• To maintain and enhance the existing network of footpaths, cycleways and public rights of way to provide access to the surrounding countryside.
• To enable improved linkages in and around Bewdley

Protecting the Countryside

• To protect and enhance watercourses including the River Severn, Riddings Brook, Dowles Brook and Snuff Mill Brook and manage the effects of flooding.
• To protect and enhance the open countryside setting of Bewdley including its open spaces, wildlife areas and green space separation from neighbouring towns to preserve the town’s distinctive settlement area.
• To protect the identity of Bewdley as an historic riverside market town within its open countryside and woodland setting and ensure that new developments respect the landscape character.

Heritage and Character

• To protect and preserve the historic environment and architectural features of Bewdley, comprising the town centre, adjoining residential streets, part of the River Severn, adjoining river frontages and other landscape features and part of the old settlement of Wribbenhall.
• To ensure that future developments or changes of use enhance the existing character of Bewdley.
• To ensure that shop frontages and signage are in keeping and enhance the historic character of Bewdley.