The final round of consultation on the plan that sets out how Stone and the wider borough will develop over the next 20 years gets under way on Wednesday 16th January.
Stafford Borough Council’s Local Plan is the document that earmarks Westbridge Park for mixed use development and was approved at a meeting of the full council late last year. But it contains a lot more than that, including details on housing, employment, environment and transport. It’s the council’s vision on where Stone should be in two decades’ time.
Before the plan goes before a Government planning inspector, the council must consult on technical issues within the document. This includes whether the plan is based on sound evidence, and whether it meets housing and employment land needs for Stone and the wider borough in the years to come.
Click HERE to see the Local Plan’s Stone section and to make your comments. Deadline for responses is 28th February.
It’s a large document and difficult to summarise but it really is worth a read. We’ll be taking a closer look at specific elements of the Local Plan over the next few weeks – let us know if there’s anything you’d like us to cover by leaving a comment at the bottom of this post or mailing news@alittlebitofstone.com
Later this year, the Government-appointed planning inspector will hold public meetings to look at what the council is proposing. If it is passed, the Local Plan will then guide all new development until 2031.
Remember, there will be a separate consultation soon on the borough council’s plans for Westbridge Park. More details about when this will be taking place as soon as we get them. You can view all our posts on the subject HERE.
Councillor Frances Beatty, Cabinet member for planning and regeneration, said: “This plan is extremely important because it allows us to shape the future growth of Stafford Borough. For example it allows us to say what type of development can take place, and where.
“I am grateful for all those residents, organisations, parish councils and others who have provided comments to some, or all, of the seven consultations that have taken place since 2008. We have staged roadshows in our towns, as well as many villages during that time, as part of those consultations, which has given us valuable feedback to the plan at various stages of its development. We now have to ensure the document has a sound evidence base before it goes before the inspector.”
The consultation begins on Wednesday 16th January and all comments must be received by noon on Thursday 28th February.
For more information go to www.staffordbc.gov.uk/publication, email forwardplans@staffordbc.gov.uk or call the Forward Planning team on 01785 619000.
1 comment
Ann
Probably because the information is complicated and full of jargon and when you try to get on to the on line portal to comment it doesn`t let you follow the link. People are concerned about the future for Stone and have already expressed thair concerns. If it is anything like the public consultation evening at Alleynes the Borough Councillors made it quite clear with their attitudes towards the people who spoke out that they are not interested in our views anyway.