Local Plan consultation enters its final full week

Hundreds of residents have attended consultation events on Stoke-on-Trent's proposed Local Plan, speaking to council officers to understand what this could mean for them and their communities.

The council has now completed over half of its programme of 15 drop-in consultation sessions. Residents are being encouraged to take part if they have not already done so.

Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: "It's fantastic to see hundreds of people taking the opportunity to come along to our consultation events and speak directly to our planning officers.

"We have now completed ten of our planned 15 consultation sessions, but it is not too late to get involved. There are still opportunities this week – and next – for residents to come along, ask questions and understand what this proposed Local Plan means for them, their families, community and the city as a whole.

"The proposed Local Plan will help guide development across Stoke-on-Trent through to 2040. The policies and site allocations agreed now could influence where new homes and other development take place, how land is managed and what type of infrastructure is needed to support our growing communities for many years to come.

"This is the final stage of consultation – known as Regulation 19 – before the Local Plan is submitted to an independent government inspector for examination. I continue to encourage anyone who has not yet engaged with the consultation to get along to one of these remaining events and find out more."

Following the two drop-in sessions that took place on Monday in Fenton and Norton Green, and a session at Birches Head on Tuesday, the remaining sessions are:

• Wednesday 26 August – 4pm-7pm, Broadway Methodist Church, Pickford Place, Meir, ST3 7DX
• Thursday 27 August – 4pm-7pm, Packmoor Ormiston Academy, Carr Street, Packmoor, ST7 4SP
• Tuesday 1 September – 4pm-7pm, Longton Library, Sutherland Institute, Lightwood Road, Longton, ST3 4HY
• Wednesday 2 September – 4pm-7pm, Tunstall Library, Tunstall Town Hall, 142 High Street, Tunstall, ST6 5TP
• Thursday 3 September – 4pm-7pm, City Central Library, Two Smithfield, Leonard Coates Way, Hanley, ST1 4FD

There is no need to book to attend any of the drop-in events. People can turn up at any of the remaining sessions to speak with council officers, ask questions and find out more about the details in the proposed Local Plan.

The council is aiming to submit the Local Plan to the independent government inspector in December 2026. Once submitted, the inspector will consider whether the proposed Plan meets the required tests and is legally compliant.

Further information about the consultation, including details of how to make a formal representation, is available from Stoke-on-Trent City Council's Local Plan consultation page