Stoke-on-Trent City Council has opened a six-week public consultation on the latest draft of its local plan, the statutory document that will shape development in the city through to 2040. The consultation, issued under regulation 19 of the planning process, sets out site allocations and policy wording that will be submitted for independent examination once responses are gathered.
What is being consulted on
The draft plan includes 70 site allocations for housing intended to help the city meet a government-set housing requirement of 952 homes per year. Responses to the regulation 19 stage must focus on specific legal and policy questions – for example, whether the plan is lawful, justified by evidence and consistent with national planning policy – rather than general comments on design or need.
Drop-in events across the city
To support public participation, the council has arranged a programme of evening drop-in sessions where residents can speak face-to-face with planning officers and find out how to make a formal representation. All sessions run between 4pm and 7pm at community venues across Stoke-on-Trent in August and early September.
- Events cover neighbourhoods that include controversial greenfield site proposals, notably Lightwood and Packmoor, as well as areas such as Norton, Trentham and Ball Green.
- Attendees will be able to discuss the draft allocations, view supporting documents and ask about the process for submitting objections or support.
- After the consultation closes, all representations will be submitted to the planning inspector as part of the examination package.
Selected event details
The council has published a schedule of venues and dates. A selection follows; residents should check the council's consultation pages for the full programme and any late changes.
| Date | Venue (area) |
|---|---|
| 11 August | Norton Central Social Club (Norton) |
| 20 August | Florence Sports & Social Club (Lightwood/Longton) |
| 27 August | Packmoor Ormiston Academy (Packmoor) |
| 1 September | Longton Library (Longton) |
Local implications and next steps
The regulation 19 consultation represents a pivotal stage. If the plan proceeds to examination, an independent planning inspector will consider whether the city’s proposals are sound and legally compliant. That examination will take account of technical evidence and the representations submitted during this consultation window.
For residents in areas with proposed greenfield allocations, the timetable means the opportunity to make focused, legally material representations is time-limited. Once the consultation period ends the council will collate responses and publish the final draft and evidence base alongside representations for inspection.
Given the scale of the proposed housing target and the number of allocated sites, the plan will have long-term consequences for land use, infrastructure demands and local services. Participation in the regulation 19 stage is the primary route for residents to ensure their concerns about legality, justification or policy compliance are considered at the examination.
Full details of the consultation material, the comprehensive list of drop-in sessions and guidance on how to make a representation are available from Stoke-on-Trent City Council's planning consultation pages.
