Stoke-on-Trent Open Space and Green Infrastructure Assessment Consultation

1. What is the Open Space and Green Infrastructure Assessment 2026?

This Open Space and Green Infrastructure Assessment is an evidence-based report document produced to support the delivery of policies in the Council’s Local Plan, which is currently being updated. The Natural and Active Environments section of the draft Stoke-on-Trent City Council Local Plan requires a strategic approach to the delivery, protection and enhancement of green infrastructure.

2. Why is the council updating the Open Space and Green Infrastructure Assessment 2026, and why do we need one?

The current Open Space evidence for Stoke-on-Trent is dated 2018. As Stoke-on-Trent grows, it is important that its open space and green infrastructure is maintained and extended to meet people’s needs as well as supporting other objectives including nature conservation, tourism and the use and enjoyment of the countryside.

The updated assessment will benefit from being informed by and closely linked to the emerging Local Plan.

3. What exactly is being consulted on?

We will ask you a series of questions about your use of open space in, and green infrastructure in and around Stoke-on-Trent, and your appreciation of the existing open space and green infrastructure. We will also ask you who you think could or should be involved in open space and infrastructure provision and management. This consultation asks you about the following:

• Open spaces within Stoke-on-Trent: existing open spaces, your use of them, and their accessibility
• Green infrastructure in and around Stoke-on-Trent: existing green infrastructures, your use of them, and their accessibility
• Who is involved, or should be involved, in open space and green infrastructure provision and management in Stoke-on-Trent

​4. What will happen after the consultation?

The results from this report will be taken into account as we progress into the production of the updated Open Space and Green Infrastructure Assessment for Stoke-on-Trent.

The approximate timetable is:

5. Where can I see the evidence used for the Open Space and Green Infrastructure Assessment 2026 Report?

The Council will publish the updated evidence to accompany the next consultation stage of the Local Plan on the Council website. The existing 2018 Green Space Strategy is still relevant until the new assessment has been finalised and is available here.

​6. Does this consultation impact my planning application?

This consultation will not impact any current planning application pending consideration, nor will it change any determined planning applications.

7. Will the Open Space and Green Infrastructure Assessment 2026 Report affect any future planning applications?

The contents of the Open Space and Green Infrastructure Assessment Report will not immediately impact decisions about a planning application, including any planning applications that have already been submitted. This is because the consultation on the Open Space and Green Infrastructure Assessment is part of a larger process, which includes the Local Plan Update. Once these are adopted (when the Updates have reached their final stage), the Updates will replace large parts of the existing Strategies and Plans. They will then have a high level of influence on planning applications that are being considered at that time. The latest plan preparation timetable estimates adoption of the updated Local Plan in 2027.

8. What is the difference between open space and green space?

In Stoke-on-Trent, open space and green space are synonymous. In the 2018 Green Space Strategy, ‘open spaces’ were previously described as ‘green spaces’. In the 2026 Assessment, the term 'open space' is used instead of ‘green space’, in compliance with the National Planning Policy Framework.

9. What is the National Planning Policy Framework? What about the Planning Practice Guidance?

The Government writes the National Planning Policy Framework and the Planning Practice Guidance. These include formal policies and guidance on planning matters, which must be considered when Local Plans are written and when planning applications are being decided upon. You can read the National Planning Policy Framework and the Planning Practice Guidance.

10. What about the Local Nature Recovery Strategy? How is this connected to the Open Space and Green Infrastructure Assessment?

The Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) is being developed by Staffordshire County Council along with all the district and local councils in the area, including Stoke-on-Trent City Council, to protect nature and to allow for nature recovery. The LNRS does this by preserving and improving habitats and biodiversity. You can read more here about what the LNRS is and why it is important.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council will be part of the LNRS under development by Staffordshire County Council, who are working closely with all the district and local councils in the area, landowners, supporting authorities, regulatory bodies, neighbouring regional authorities, communities, business, and environmental bodies and utilities. You can find the timeline for the LRNS here.

The Open Space and Green Infrastructure Assessment will support the LNRS by preserving and improving the connections between different habitats, which will support the LNRS goal of nature recovery and biodiversity.

​11. Is the council consulting on anything else at the same time?

Yes, and these other consultations are available on the Stoke-on-Trent City Council consultation portal. If you want to comment on these, ensure that you do so separately.

12. Who is conducting this Open Space and Green Infrastructure Assessment Consultation?

This consultation is conducted by independent planning company MD2 Consulting Ltd on behalf of Stoke-on-Trent City Council. MD2 Consulting Ltd previously produced the existing Green Space Strategy 2018 for Stoke-on-Trent.

13. How are we processing and protecting your data?

The consultation is anonymous and confidential. Your information will only be used by the consultation team contracted by MD2 Consulting Ltd to process the consultation on the Open Space and Green Infrastructure Assessment 2026 for Stoke-on-Trent. The team will compile a publicly accessible report, which will only contain averages and anonymous responses from the consultation. Identifying you from the data will not be possible. The data will be kept 5 years from the last date of access. After this point, the data will be reviewed and either retained or destroyed. Any destruction will follow legal and funder requirements.