Views sought on future development plans

Bosses at Stoke-on-Trent City Council say the plan will help secure future employment opportunities

Proposals for the development of Stoke-on-Trent are being drawn up and residents are invited to have their say.

The city council will consult on its draft local plan - which includes plans for nearly 19,000 new homes - up until 20 October.

The document is intended to guide the location and type of building projects taking place in the area through to 2040 – including consideration for the economy, infrastructure, transport, travel and the environment.

There will be a series of drop-in events during the six-week consultation, which opened on Monday, and people could also view the plans and fill in the consultation online.

The draft local plan sets out a requirement for at least 18,960 new homes to help accommodate growing numbers of older people as well as helping meet national housing targets.

The council added its housing waiting list had increased by more than 40% in the last 12 months - with more than 3,000 people waiting for a home, including many in the highest need categories.

Nationally, the number of people aged 65 or older has increased from nine million in 2011 to over 11 million in 2021, and the proportion of people aged 65 or older rose from 16.4% to 18.6% according to the Office for National Statistics.

The council's local plan sets out where houses could be built in future years

The city council’s plans also included at least 84 hectares of employment land which the council said was needed during the 20-year period.

A strong emphasis would be placed on redeveloping brownfield land, the council said.

The draft plans also included some green belt for development, but the authority said the majority of green belt and other open space in the city would be protected.

"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," said Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing, planning and governance.