Filming in Shropshire: permits and fees
Shropshire Council manages filming permits for county highways and public land, with Ironbridge Gorge and major heritage sites under independent management.
Who issues permits
Shropshire Council is the unitary authority covering the county outside Telford and Wrekin. It manages filming on council highways, parks, and civic land. Shrewsbury town centre filming goes through the council, though specific streets may involve coordination with the Business Improvement District. Ironbridge Gorge is partly in Shropshire, partly in Telford and Wrekin — and the museum sites within the gorge are managed by the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust.
Process
Contact Shropshire Council with full production details, proposed dates, and a risk assessment. Standard applications take three to four weeks. Anything requiring road closures takes longer — a traffic management plan signed off by the highway authority is required. For Much Wenlock and rural village locations, advance notice helps reduce impact on residents.
Fees
Fees on request. Highway filming involves permit and potential traffic management charges. Location hire for council land is priced on application.
Key locations and management
- Ironbridge Gorge — Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust (independent)
- Shrewsbury town centre — Shropshire Council
- Much Wenlock — Shropshire Council (small historic town)
- Clun Village — Shropshire Council
- Telford Ironbridge Centre — Telford and Wrekin Council
Contact
- Email: customer.services@shropshire.gov.uk
- Web: shropshire.gov.uk
Apply via Shropshire Council → shropshire.gov.uk
FAQ
- Who issues this filming permit?
- Shropshire Council issues filming permits for its area. Applications go through the council's filming / events team — not the local parks department or police, although those may also be consulted.
- How long is the lead time?
- Allow at least 21 working days. Complex applications involving road closures, drone use, or multiple locations need more — plan 2–4 weeks ahead where possible.
- What's the typical cost?
- Shropshire Council quotes filming fees case-by-case based on scale, duration, and public-realm impact. Small documentary crews are often charged an admin fee only; feature-film shoots involving road closures cost meaningfully more.
- What does this permit cover?
- The permit typically covers streets, parks, civic buildings. Private property and other national-body land (e.g. Crown Estate, National Trust, Royal Parks) may need separate consent.
- How do I apply?
- Apply via Shropshire Council's filming page at https://www.shropshire.gov.uk. Submit your dates, locations, crew numbers, and equipment list. Expect a risk-assessment request and, for larger shoots, a pre-filming meeting.