At least 84 hectares of employment land will be required in Stoke-on-Trent over a 20-year period, the city council has said.
The local authority has set out its vision for the growth and prosperity of the city in a draft Local Plan 2020-2040 with nine key themes including the economy, housing and infrastructure.
Subject to review every five years, the Local Plan will also look to boost health and wellbeing and create jobs and opportunities to regenerate buildings, communities and towns.
It sets out the need for a minimum of 84 hectares of employment land during the 20-year period and 21 locations have been detailed in a list of sites allocated for development.
The largest of those are alongside the A500 in Cliff Vale, the former Ravensdale sports field off Chemical Lane in Tunstall, and land off City Road in Fenton. Others are situated on Canal Lane in Tunstall, land east of Dewsbury Road in Fenton and in the Chatterley Valley area.
The Local Plan says a ‘continuous supply of land and full range of premises will be made available for all forms of employment development’ and an emphasis will be placed on ensuring sites are available to support sectors such as advanced manufacturing, the digital and technological sector, creative industries and uses for transport and storage which are all deemed as important to the city’s economic growth and development.
Etruscan Square is mentioned as a key opportunity to help broaden and diversify the city centre’s offer, acknowledging a need to invest further in Hanley, where there are significantly higher than average vacancy rates.
The council also considers the role of the evening economy as important to improve and enhance the existing vitality and viabilityof centres of the city and its towns.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s cabinet is expected to approve the draft local plan consultation document when it meets on Tuesday (19 August).
As well as determining where and how much development there should be, the plan also provides policies to guide and determine associated planning applications.
Every local planning authority in the country is required to produce a local plan and also must set an annual house building target.
The Local Plan highlights that a minimum of 18,960 new homes – equating to 948 per year – will be required over the plan period to meet Stoke-on-Trent’s housing needs and the government targets.
There is also a focus on active travel in the city and ensuring the right infrastructure is in place to promote this and accessible and affordable public transport.
If approved by cabinet, a public consultation will take place between 8 September and 20 October.
Councillor Chris Robinson, the city council’s cabinet member for housing, planning and governance, said: “The Local Plan aims to support the continued growth of Stoke-on-Trent with the right kind of houses and services while ensuring sustainable development.
“We need to balance economic, social and environmental objectives to meet the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
“It also supports the principles of healthier communities and is being positively planned to the meet the significant and growing housing needs in the city from all communities.
“Peoples’ views are very important to us. So, we are asking everyone to take the time to have their say through the consultation and help to shape our city.”
