Published: Monday, 11th August 2025
People are to have their say on a 20-year development plan which sets out a sustainable vision for the growth and prosperity of Stoke-on-Trent.
The council is set to ask the public to consult on its draft Local Plan 2020-2040 over a six-week period this Autumn.
It outlines the authority's vision for housing, the economy, infrastructure transport, cultural heritage, green space and the environment - as well as the continuing role for the city centre and town centres.
The Local Plan, which is subject to review every five years, will also look to boost health and wellbeing and create jobs and opportunities to regenerate buildings, communities and towns.
As well as determining where and how much development there should be, the plan also provides policies to guide and determine associated planning applications.
Every local planning authority in the country is required by the government to produce a local plan and every council must set an annual house building target too.
The Local Plan highlights that a minimum of 18,960 new homes - equating to 948 per year - will be required over the two-decade plan period to meet Stoke-on-Trent’s housing needs and the government targets. Work is already underway on this with the council unveiling a pipeline to deliver 5,000 homes in the next five to seven years.
It also shows that all opportunities to accommodate development within the existing urban area have been explored - targeting brownfield land wherever possible. However, to meet the city's housing requirements, it is recognised that the release of some land from the Green Belt will also be required.
The plan will also aim to secure more affordable housing as part of any future major housing development.
It comes as the council is looking to prevent concentrations of houses in multiple occupancy (HMOs) being established in the city.
The plan also sets out the need for a minimum of 84 hectares of employment land during the 20-year period.
There is also a focus on active travel in the city and ensuring the right infrastructure is in place to promote this and accessible and affordable public transport.
If approved by cabinet, the public consultation on the plan is set to take place from 8 September to 20 October.
People will be able to go online to access the consultation - or email or write to the council's Planning Policy Team. More details can be found online here: www.stoke.gov.uk/localplan
Councillor Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing, planning and governance at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “The Local Plan aims to support the continued growth of Stoke-on-Trent with the right kind of houses and services while ensuring sustainable development.
“We need to balance economic, social and environmental objectives to meet the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
“It also supports the principles of healthier communities and is being positively planned to the meet the significant and growing housing needs in the city from all communities.
“Peoples’ views are very important to us. So, we are asking everyone to take the time to have their say through the consultation and help to shape our city.”
The draft Local Plan document can be found here - Draft Local Plan - Regulation 18
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