Latest stage of Stafford’s Local Plan to go out to public consultation

The latest plan will cover the years up to 2040 and sets out how Stafford Borough will develop over the following two decades.

And the new local plan issues and options report is now set to go out to public consultation after being approved by the borough council’s cabinet at its meeting on Thursday.

Councillor Frances Beatty, cabinet member for economic development and planning, said: “There has been a great deal of interest in this stage of the Local Plan.

“We have approached every organisation and individual we can think of but we hope the message will go out the document is now out for consultation. It is an important time for members of the public and organisations to put forward their ideas on how the borough council should go forward.”

A report to Thursday’s cabinet meeting said: “It is important for the borough council to make progress on the new Local Plan for Stafford Borough in order to provide for future development across the borough through strategic planning policies and specific land allocations.

“Since the plan for Stafford Borough 2011-2031 was adopted – Part 1 in June 2014 and Part 2 in January 2017 – significant changes have occurred both at a national and local planning context.

“As part of the issues and options stage the next stage in the process is to go out to public consultation in February and March 2020. This public consultation exercise will seek responses from the local community.”

There have been changes in Government policies covering areas including housing development.

A review of gypsy and traveller pitch provision in the years after 2027 is also taking place and a new “garden community” known as Meecebrook, including up to 10,000 new homes, could be developed on former MOD land near Eccleshall and Stone.

Elements of the issues and options report to be considered in the public consultation include town centres that address future needs, housing, environmental quality and health and wellbeing.