FAQ's about the Draft Local Plan
What is a Local Plan?
Every local planning authority has to produce a Local Plan which sets out the planning framework for its area. The Local Plan is an important document that sets out how Stoke-on-Trent will grow between 2020 and 2040, and where new development should go. It also contains policies, which will be used to decide planning applications, and aims to ensure that the needs of local residents and business are met across a range of themes including housing, economy, the environment, transport, and heritage.
What are the stages of the Local Plan?
The Local Plan timetable sets out the planned stages for the preparation of the Local Plan and was approved by the council's Cabinet on the 21 May 2024. There are a number of stages in the development of the Local Plan:
| Stage | Progress, timeframe and what it involves |
| Issues and Options (Regulation 18 of the Town and Country (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012) | Notification of the subject of the local plan and inviting representations on what the Local Plan ought to contain.Consultation completed June 2021. |
| Draft Local Plan(Regulation 18 of the Town and Country (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012) | The full Local Plan containing proposed policies and site allocations and inviting representations thereon. Consultation taking place 8 September - 20 October 2025. |
| Publication version of the Local Plan(Regulations 19 and 20 of the Town and Country (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012) | The full Local Plan proposed to be submitted to the Secretary of State along with a statement of representations procedure. Consultation expected April/May 2026. |
| Submission of the Local Plan (and supporting documents) to the Secretary of State(Regulation 22 of the Town and Country (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012) | The full Local Plan to be submitted to the Secretary of State along with supporting documents including the Sustainability Appraisal, Policies Map and representations made.Submission expected November 2026 (followed by examination in public). |
What stage is the Local Plan at now?
The Local Plan is currently at the Draft Local Plan (Regulation 18) consultation stage. This is an opportunity for residents, businesses, and stakeholders to comment on the proposed policies and site allocations.
What themes does the Local Plan cover?
There are nine themes within the Local Plan as follows:
- Infrastructure
- Economy
- Housing
- Centres
- Transport
- Design
- Cultural Heritage
- Natural and Active Environments
- Climate Change and Environmental Resources
How many new homes are proposed?
The Draft Local Plan proposes a minimum of 18,960 new homes over the plan period (2020–2040), equating to 948 homes per year. This number has been calculated in line with the Government's standard methodology for calculating the number of houses needed within the city.
What type of housing will be built?
The Draft Local Plan supports the provision of a range of housing types and tenures to meet a variety of housing needs, including market housing, specialist accommodation, self-build and custom-build plots.
It is also important to provide much-needed affordable housing to meet local needs. For new housing developments of 10 dwellings or more, or where the site area is 0.5 hectares or more, affordable housing will be required on the following basis:
- 20% on large brownfield sites.
- 25% on greenfield sites.
- 30% on brownfield sites in the Green Belt.
- 35% on greenfield sites in the Green Belt
What employment opportunities are proposed?
The Draft Local Plan aims to deliver 84 hectares of employment land over the plan period as a minimum, creating conditions in which businesses can invest, expand, adapt to market conditions, and provide new job and training opportunities, whilst protecting existing employment sites within the city. This seeks to plan positively for growth in various sectors including advanced manufacturing, storage and logistics, research and development, and digital industries, as well as enhancing the tourist economy, retail and leisure offer within the city.
Can our housing and economic needs be met on brownfield land?
Brownfield land (also known as previously developed land) is land which is, or was, occupied by a permanent structure.
Not all brownfield sites in the city are owned by the council, however, a key priority is to continue to focus on ongoing regeneration of the city, ensuring support for the development of brownfield land.
The council has explored all opportunities to accommodate development within the existing urban area, and considered the latest evidence to inform site assessments, and concluded that there is insufficient brownfield land to meet the city's housing needs, and support economic growth over the plan period.
Furthermore, viability evidence informing the Local Plan has concluded that there is limited viability to support the delivery of many brownfield sites up to 200 dwellings within the city. A proportion of brownfield sites would also not be able to meet other policy requirements, including affordable housing.
Can Green Belt land be developed?
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (December 2024) states that 'once established, Green Belt boundaries should only be altered where exceptional circumstances are fully evidenced and justified through the preparation or updating of plans'. Paragraph 146 of the NPPF continues to explain that exceptional circumstances 'include, but are not limited to, instances where an authority cannot meet its identified need for homes, commercial or other development through other means.
In order to amend the Green Belt boundaries, the NPPF (paragraph 147) makes it clear that authorities should demonstrate that all other options for meeting identified need has been examined, including:
a.make as much use as possible of suitable brownfield sites and underutilised land;
b.optimise the density of development in line with the policies in chapter 11 of the NPPF, including whether policies promote a significant uplift in minimum density standards in town and city centres and other locations well served by public transport; and
c.being informed by discussions with neighbouring authorities about whether they could accommodate some of the identified need for development, as demonstrated through the statement of common ground.
Given that an insufficient number of sites have been identified in the site selection process, the inclusion of Green Belt sites within the Draft Local Plan has been considered. As a result of this process, it has been concluded that to maximise the delivery of housing and ensure that sufficient affordable housing can be provided, Broad Locations within the Green Belt have been allocated for development.
Broad Locations refers to larger areas identified for potential development, that may take longer to be delivered, which are then further refined into specific sites.
Broad Locations have been chosen where there is a cluster of sites, with some availability, which can meet development needs. This enables sites to provide a range of development types and be sustainable by providing all required infrastructure, supporting both existing and new communities.
Can I still submit a site for consideration through the Local Plan process?
The Call for Sites process is still open, and we are currently accepting new submissions. Any submitted sites will be considered at the next stage of the plan process. Sites can be submitted for consideration through the online Site Nomination Form.
What infrastructure and services will be provided to support proposed development?
The Draft Local Plan contains policies to ensure that new development is supported by additional or improved infrastructure and services, including sustainable transport, schools, healthcare facilities, community facilities, green and blue infrastructure, mitigation to impacts on the highways network, flood risk mitigation and water management.
The council has been consulting with a wide range of stakeholders that are responsible for infrastructure and service provision in the city. The evidence-base for infrastructure will continue to develop as the Local Plan progresses through consultation stages and a separate Infrastructure Delivery Plan, which will detail infrastructure requirements, is expected to be published in 2026.
What data and information has been used to inform the Draft Local Plan?
To support the Local Plan, we have published an updated evidence-base that will continue to be updated as new evidence documents are produced. The evidence covers a range of themes including housing, employment, land availability, green space, flooding, Green Belt, retail and leisure.
The evidence-base can be accessed on the Local Plan webpage here: Stoke-on-Trent Local Plan Documents and Evidence.
How can I comment on the Draft Local Plan?
Comments can be made through the online consultation. You are encouraged to use the online consultation which will help you to keep track of the comments you have made and see other comments which might be of interest. The online consultation portal can be accessed here: Stoke-on-Trent City Council - Planning Consultations.
If you are not able to use the online consultation, then comments can be made:via email to localplan@stoke.gov.ukin writing to Planning Policy Team, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Civic Centre; Glebe Street, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 1HH
If you have any issues with engaging online, please contact the Planning Policy team and we will assist.
All responses must be received by 20 October 2025.
What happens next?
After reviewing and considering all comments received as part of the Regulation 18 consultation, the council will prepare the Regulation 19 publication version of the Local Plan. This will be subject to further consultation, which is expected in April/May 2026, before being submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination, expected in November 2026.
How can I be kept informed about progress of the Local Plan?
If you would like to stay updated with the progress of the Local Plan and be notified of future consultation stages, you can register for email updates on the Local Plan webpage.