Stoke-on-Trent Draft Local Plan Consultation Draws 1,000 Online Responses

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's consultation on its draft Local Plan received 1,000 online responses, with most of them about proposed housing sites.

According to the consultation figures, 787 of the responses from individuals and organisations related to the sites earmarked for new homes.

The consultation closed at 11.59pm on Monday 14 September.

The Local Plan will guide where development takes place across the city up to 2040.

It aims to meet the government's target of 952 new homes a year, which adds up to 19,040 homes over the 20-year plan period.

Proposals to use some Green Belt and greenfield land for housing, including sites at Lightwood and Packmoor, have proved controversial.

Campaigners have opposed plans to earmark 11 Green Belt sites for nearly 8,000 homes, including about 3,000 at Lightwood alone.

The council has said it is putting brownfield land first, but that some greenfield sites are needed to meet the housing target.

All the responses will be sent to the government along with the final draft of the plan. The council is aiming to submit the plan in December 2026.

An independent planning inspector will then hold a public examination, expected early next year, to consider whether the plan is legally compliant, in line with national policy and "sound".

People who responded to the consultation will be able to speak at the examination.

More information about the Local Plan and the next stages is available on Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Local Plan consultation page.

Six Towns Daily will provide further updates if more information is released by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.