Newcastle local plan to be discussed at meeting

The controversial local plan for Newcastle-under-Lyme is set to be considered by a special meeting of the economy and place scrutiny committee before councillors vote on whether to proceed to the next stage later this month. If approved it would see the development of 8000 new homes.

The local plan, which has been in development since 2021 sets a framework for new homes and employment sites in the borough. The draft plan was first published in June last year and included site allocations for up to 5,395 homes at 41 locations across Newcastle.

If councillors approve the final draft of the local plan at the full council meeting at Newcastle Borough Council on July 24 it will then go out for the final stage of public consultation before being sent to the planning inspector for consideration. It is expected that the final consultation will run for eight weeks between August 12 until 7 October 2024.

At the previous consultation stage thousands of campaigners objected to development in greenbelt land and some questioned whether the borough needed so many new houses considering a fall in the population. These responses formed the latest draft of the local plan.

The latest draft of the local plan involves the removal of several controversial sites including NC77 Bent Farm, Newchapel which could have delivered 98 houses and AB32 Land at Nursery Gardens, Audley which was earmarked for 25 houses.

The local plan will deliver 8000 new homes during the period 2020-2040 which equates to 400 new houses every year. However the plan identifies an annual need for 278 affordable homes throughout the life of the plan.

Based on recent economic models and projections for the area, consultants have advised that around 400 new homes a year are needed to support job growth of 237. The three strategic employment sites in the plan include KL15 in Keele to support the Keele Science corridor, AB2 at junction 16 of the M6 for an employment park and TK30 at Talke would be used for logistics.

Councillor Andrew Fear, cabinet member for strategic planning said: “Our existing planning policy is dated, and the Borough has changed in so many ways since when this policy came into being. Alongside a changed environment, there have been changes in people’s lifestyles and the way work and business is done. We need to ensure in our new planning policies that they reflect the way we live today and are likely to in the future.

“The Local Plan seeks to provide the basis for new housing to meet different types of need, likewise opportunities for jobs across a range of employment sectors. Crucially, it identifies requirements for vital infrastructure necessary to support new development. 

“It also recognises the important physical and natural assets that are a characteristic of the Borough and which should be safeguarded and protected now and for future generations.”