People will be able to have their say from today on a long-term vision to boost growth, prosperity and employment in the city while retaining the vast majority of its green spaces.
A wide-reaching consultation is taking place from 8 September until 20 October on Stoke-on-Trent’s Draft Local Plan 2020-2040.
A series of drop-in events are planned during the six-week period and people can also view the plans and fill in the consultation online here - www.stoke.gov.uk/localplan.
The plan outlines the council’s vision for sustainably building a city fit for the future with a major emphasis on job creation and making sure people can continue to live and work locally, close to their families and friends.
It looks at everything from the economy, infrastructure, transport, active travel, cultural heritage, green space and the environment - as well as the continuing role for the city centre and town centres.
The Local Plan will also look to boost health and wellbeing and create jobs and opportunities to regenerate buildings, communities and towns.
In order to achieve this growth, the Local Plan highlights that a minimum of 18,960 new homes – many in the affordable category – need to be built. This will also help to accommodate the increase in the city’s older population, in line with national figures*.
It will also help meet national housing targets and with the number of people on the city’s waiting list which has increased more than 40 per cent in the last 12 months - and now has more than 3,000 people on it, many who are in the highest need categories.
In addition, the plans have identified that a minimum of 84 hectares of employment land are needed during the 20-year period – to key into the success of existing sites like the Ceramic Valley Enterprise Zone, which is on target to create more than 4,300 jobs by 2028.
A strong emphasis will be to re-develop brownfield land, continuing the city council’s long-term commitment to earmark former industrial or derelict site for thousands of homes and other regeneration projects.
And although the plan includes some green belt for potential development, the majority of green belt and other open space in the city will be protected.
Councillor Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing, planning and governance at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “The Local Plan is all about making sure our city is fit for the future – fit to house a growing population, both young and old, so that families can stay together, and to tap into the thousands of exciting job opportunities we are on target to create.
“It’s about making sure that people can be proud of the place where they live and know that any development will be sustainable, ensuring our very green city remains just that for generations to come.
“And it’s also about making sure that development isn’t piecemeal but fits into the bigger picture of a long-term vision for growth and prosperity, that benefits all of us.
“With all this in mind it is absolutely critical that people feedback on this draft version of the plan as we look to create a city that is economically stronger, healthier, fairer and inclusive for everyone – while supporting the sustainable development that we need for our growing population.”
To find out where and when all the drop in events are taking place visit – www.stoke.gov.uk/localplan.
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