With a new MP who has spoken out against the planned ‘relief’ road and a new national government which has announced a review of the previous administration’s ‘unfunded’ road building projects, what is happening with the controversial North West Relief Road (NWRR) plan? 

Shropshire Council continues to pursue the plan, and has decided to complete planning permission before presenting the full business case to a council meeting later this year.  The council website still states that they expect works to begin in summer 2025, with completion by 2026, despite this late date for bringing the business case to council. 

Campaigners against the road are raising funds to seek a judicial review once planning permission is in place, which means the scheme may be subject to further delay. 

Zero Carbon Shropshire has made an assessment of the scheme and concluded that it does not support it on the grounds that it would impede Shropshire’s aim of reaching Net Zero Carbon by 2030.  Shrewsbury Town Council is not in favour of the road scheme; the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water have both raised significant concerns about the risk that the road poses to water supply and Shropshire Wildlife Trust and Shropshire CPRE have also objected based on the impact on the Environment and Nature.   

Meanwhile, a high-profile campaign continues to grow to save the ‘Darwin Oak’, one of the 36 veteran trees which would be felled if the road goes ahead.  A petition to government reached over 108,000 signatures and is due to be handed in to No. 10 by local campaigners and MPs in early October.  The ‘Darwin Oak’ is also in the running to win the Tree of the Year 2024 award (voting deadline 21 October).  There is also a ‘Darwin Oak’ song...to be released soon.