Action plan after council misses housing targets

Housebuilding targets are set to soar in the coming years

Council bosses in Stoke-on-Trent have agreed a new plan for building more homes in the city after failing to hit increasing government targets.

In the three years up to 2022-23, a total of 1,397 homes were built in Stoke-on-Trent, compared with a goal of 1,536; an annual average of more than 500.

The target is set to rise to 948 homes a year, meaning the council will be expected to more than double its recent delivery.

Measures in the city's new action plan include identifying more sites for housing, making the planning process more efficient and providing support for developers.

According to analysis carried out by consultants from Tetra Tech, the city faces challenges such as a lack of available sites, with relatively low house prices in some local markets reducing the viability of developments.

Chris Robinson, the city council's cabinet member for housing, planning and governance, said some developers had also failed to deliver after being granted planning permission.

"We are committed to giving residents more choice by providing them with a wide range of high-quality and affordable housing options," he said.

"Our action plan sets out the steps we are taking to improve housing delivery in the city, enabling us to provide new homes for people of all backgrounds."

According to the plan, Stoke-on-Trent had been over-delivering new homes compared to targets until 2021-22, when the city's housing requirement "increased significantly".

Pre-application advice services are to be improved as part of the measures.

The council said it would unlock the delivery of new homes on land it owns through its housing company Fortior Homes and in collaboration with Homes England across 22 sites.

It also pledged to increase the monitoring of sites where construction had stalled or where permission was about to lapse.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.