Opening up the Attingham Estate

Your questions answered

• How can I share my comments on the planning application?

  You can submit your comments on the planning application by following this link. Alternatively, you can visit the Shropshire Council planning portal and search for application number 24/04831/FUL.

• What will the new site be like?

  The proposed new site will be a purpose-built visitor facility that offers access to a mix of high-quality activities and experiences in beautiful, natural surroundings.

  We hope the new site will become a destination for a full day of activity, including facilities to hire equipment and get changed, as well as a programme of led activities, spaces for events, and accommodation.

  Our paths and trails, which will criss-cross areas of the Attingham Estate previously not open to the public, will offer a unique range of walking, running, and cycling experiences.

  At the heart of the hub will be new buildings offering a café, toilets, a community room, and cycle hire facilities. We will work with local people and user groups to establish what activities they would like. Additionally, we will develop community engagement, learning, and wellbeing programmes for local schools, charities, and partner organisations.

  The planned multi-use trail in Phase One will create a circular 5km trail (amongst others), making the Attingham Estate more accessible for walking, cycling, and running. Over the next 10 years, the new hub site will also provide a key link to Shrewsbury, Haughmond, and the Wrekin, working in partnership with Sustrans and Shropshire Council to create connecting cycle routes.

  The new site at Attingham will provide much-needed facilities for our visitors and local communities in Shropshire. We aim to give people opportunities to get outdoors, be more active, and get closer to nature.

• Why are you building a new site?

  The need for access to green outdoor spaces is greater than ever. Our visitor numbers are increasing, which puts a lot of pressure on our existing facilities and can impact the natural and historic environment. We know that many of our visitors come to explore the wider parkland, and our research shows a demand for a better outdoor experience. The new site is intended to offer these visitors new ways to explore the outdoors and discover nature. Located away from the main heritage site, the new site will also reduce the pressure on our existing facilities and ensure we continue to protect Attingham. This will enable us to provide activities that we currently can't offer at the main site, such as family cycling.

• Why are you building an active outdoor site?

  To foster a love of the outdoors, we aim to create more opportunities for people to get active and enjoy nature in ways that bring lifelong pleasure and enhance wellbeing. At the heart of the Trust’s strategy is improving access to and awareness of our many outdoor locations, encouraging people to experience the unique joy of spending time in nature. According to the Natural England Report on Green Spaces, only 16% of Shropshire residents have adequate access to green spaces.

  We want the next generation to grow up loving and caring for the Shropshire countryside. By providing appealing facilities and fostering positive connections with the outdoors, we hope they will develop a lasting love for it.

• Where will the new site be?

  If approved, the new site will be located on the former WWII Atcham Airfield, land currently used mainly for arable farming. The runway and some other buildings still remain, and we will conserve and highlight the history and archaeology of this area by carrying out remedial works on some of the surviving structures. The network of multi-use trails will criss-cross areas of the Attingham Estate that have previously not been open to the public, offering a unique range of walking, running, and cycling experiences.

• Why was this area chosen?

  We looked at lots of different locations to find an area that would be suitable for the facilities required, whilst having the least impact on the historic park and wildlife. This site provides a flat space, with open views, points of historical interest, and the opportunity for sustainable transportation links.

• What will happen to the existing site at Attingham Park?

  The existing site will continue to operate as it always has done for the people of Shropshire.

• What will happen to the tenant farmers?

  We are working closely with our tenant farmers to ensure that sustainable farming continues across the estate. The multi-use trail network is set to run adjacent to arable farmland which will remain tenanted.

  Over many years we have been working with our tenant farmers to make all the land we look after healthier and more resilient. We tailor solutions to each place, often working with farmers to put nature at the heart of managing land. This helps protect water and soil, capture carbon, create bigger wildlife habitats and provide public access, while making sure farmers can run successful businesses and produce great food. Land and landscapes are facing unprecedented threats, and the loss of nature and the changing climate are the biggest risks locally and globally.

• Will the new site be environmentally friendly?

  We’re designing the new site with sustainability at it's heart and will carefully use natural resources where possible.

  We have been careful to take into account the wildlife, landscape character and features in designing the site. New buildings will be energy efficient and well insulated. We will be using green energy options where practicable, such as; solar, and ground/ air source heating.

  The National Trust aims to become carbon net zero by 2030, by reducing emissions from our operations in line with science-based targets, and for those carbon emissions we can’t reduce, we’ll remove the equivalent amount from the atmosphere in our land and habitats.

• How accessible will the new site be?

  We aim to provide opportunities for everyone to explore and enjoy the outdoors. Accessibility is a high priority for the new site. We are working towards National Trust accessibility standards, we have commissioned an external Accessibility Consultant, and we have also consulted various local community groups and partners around access.

  Accessible parking bays will be located close to the buildings and level access will be provided to, around, and inside the buildings. The toilet facilities will include a ‘Changing Places’ accessible toilet and separate baby changing area. We’ll provide a variety of seating and benches, including accessible picnic benches outside.

  The new site will create new, accessible footpaths and multi-use trails. We’ll use a mixture of surfaces to allow wheelchair users to enjoy the new trails, and benches will be installed along the paths so you can rest while you enjoy the surroundings.

  Access to the new site will be possible by car, bus, and path and cycle network. We are working with Shropshire Council on public transport options.

• Will the new site attract new visitors?

  The number of visitors to the Attingham Estate has been growing each year and we expect this growth to continue in the future – even without the new hub site.

  While the addition of new facilities may generate some new visits, the new outdoor site is also designed to help disperse our visitors across the wider estate – which is why we’re locating it away from the main site. This will allow us to sustainably manage the growth in visitors that is already happening and will reduce the pressure on the main visitor site, so we can protect Attingham’s heritage.

• When will the new site be open to visitors?

  Subject to securing planning approval the plan is to start construction during Spring 2025 to open the outdoor hub to visitors in 2026.

• Will there be a café at the new site?

  There will be food and beverage provision at the new site and we are currently working with community groups and visitors on what this might look and feel like for when we open phase one of the site.

• Can I bring my dog?

  You will be able to bring your four legged friend along. We are currently working on what this looks like but due to the nature of the site and the future activity we will be asking for paws on paths and most areas will be dogs on leads. As part of the plans we are looking at where we can have dedicated off lead areas.

• Can I ride my horse?

  Our plans include a network of permissive bridleways that will connect existing rights of way. Horse box parking will unfortunately not be possible; however, we will have horse tie ups and mounting blocks so you can stop for a snack and the toilet on your journey through the site.

• What will there be for children?

  Attingham Park has excellent existing facilities for pre-school and primary school children. At the proposed new hub site, we will be focusing on late primary age children to young adults with natural play and activities. We are working with communities, partners, and children and young people to develop what this would look like.

• Will current visitors be affected during the construction of the new site?

  No, the site is away from the current main visitor route, and currently has no public access.

• How will you protect wildlife in the area?

  Our job is, and always will be, to protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive. Throughout the planning process we’ve considered how we can best protect important wildlife areas, improve existing natural habitats and create new wildlife-friendly areas.

  When choosing a site for the hub, we carried out intensive and robust surveys to establish the ecological baselines, this gives us the opportunity to improve the site for wildlife – which is a key aim for the project.

  We’ve carried out a detailed ecology survey and aim to avoid working in areas that contain protected and important species and habitats. Construction will be carefully managed. We will be creating new habitats and planting trees, shrubs and an orchard.

  The outdoor hub will be a place where people can get closer to and learn more about wildlife and nature, so they can help us look after the special wildlife here at Attingham. Keep an eye on the Nature recovery on the Attingham Estate page of our website for more details about how we aim to protect wildlife and enhance wildlife.

• Will you need to remove trees and woodlands?

  Attingham Estate currently has 10% of its land forested with an ambition to increase this to 20% by 2035. The outdoor hub is a key part of this development with new areas of tree planting identified and opportunities to join up dispersed woodland. As part of the planning tree inspections have been undertaken to ensure the health of the plantations as well as factoring in safety considerations.

• Will there be car parking?

  Yes- Access to the car park for the new site will be free of National Trust members and involve a charge per car for paying visitors. Visitors will only need to pay for parking the car, if not a member, to access the site. We will be using a number plate recognition system where members scan their cards. Vistors arriving on foot, cycling, and by public transport, will access the site for free. We are working with Sustrans to link into their cycle network.

  In common with most National Trust sites we will be providing car parking. This will be a hard surface car park and overflow parking areas on grass. This will include provision for disabled parking and coach parking. We will also provide charging points for electric vehicles.

  There will also be a pick up and drop off point for public transport, we are working with Shropshire Council to link to the local bus network. We are part of the pilot on bus transport in Shropshire and will be working to ensure we are considered in Shropshire and Shrewsbury plans.

• What impact will this project have on the local highways and how will you encourage sustainable transport?

  We have carried out traffic and speed surveys along the key roads and have been in consultation with Shropshire County Council and Highways England through our transportation engineers. Traffic studies show that most of Attingham’s current visitors arrive outside of the peak commuting times and at weekends and school holidays.

  Over the next 10 years, the new hub site will also provide a key link for cycling to Shrewsbury, Haughmond and the Wrekin, working in partnership with Sustrans and Shropshire Council, through the creation of connecting cycle routes. We will also be installing EV chargers in the new car park, alongside a coach park and bus drop off area. We are working with Shropshire Council on public transport access. We are also working with partners who will be providing transport for school and community groups.

• Will there be volunteering roles at the new site?

  We have around 700 volunteers who already help us to look after Attingham. We anticipate we will need several hundred more to support our new offer, for example cycle hire.

• How many new staff roles will be created at the new site?

  We will be creating new jobs in food and beverage, visitor welcome, facilities, bike hire, and outdoors teams.

• Are the trails only for cyclists?

  Most of the trails are for use by walkers, runners and cyclists. Any sections of trail at any of our properties that are for the exclusive use of one user group are clearly signposted. We ask that all users follow site-specific guidance to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all visitors. Where possible and appropriate, an alternative route will be available for other users and none of the new cycle-only trails take away existing space for walkers. Cyclists are just one of the user groups who will be able to enjoy using the new trails. However, it’s worth noting that the trails are aimed at leisure cyclists and people who aren’t regularly taking part in activity rather than people who would consider themselves experienced cyclists.

• How will you manage safety on the multi-trails?

  Trails of this nature have been safely implemented at many sites across the United Kingdom. Each site has individual challenges but through careful planning, safety signage and the use of features along the trails such as pinch-points and speed control using tight twists on steep gradients, the safety of all users is preserved. All users are asked to be aware of each other whilst enjoying trails.