Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has approved its Local Plan 2020-2040 at a Full Council meeting. The planning document, which outlines where building can take place and which land is protected from developers, was examined by a Government-appointed Planning Inspector before approval.
Council approves plan with reservations
The council's leadership expressed concerns about parts of the plan but concluded that approval was the responsible course of action. Deputy Leader Graham Shaw explained that rejecting the plan would expose communities to a greater risk from developers. Under planning law, applications for development on greenfield and Green Belt land are more likely to succeed when a council has no up-to-date plan in place.
The approved Local Plan provides for 400 new homes per year in the borough.
Fresh challenge ahead
The council now faces a new requirement from Government. It has been asked to begin work on a revised local plan covering 2030-2045. This new plan would require 559 homes annually — a significant increase from the current target of 400 per year.
Council Leader Jonathan Gullis has refused to commit up to £1 million of taxpayers' money to this revised plan. He cited two reasons: the Government's proposal to abolish the council, and his objection to Newcastle-under-Lyme being set higher housing targets while targets are reduced elsewhere.