Stafford Borough Local Plan 2001

The Stafford Borough Local Plan 2001 is the current adopted development plan for Stafford Borough contains policies directing development proposals and promoting appropriate land-use. The Local Plan, as part of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 was saved in its entirety until 27th September 2007. The Secretary of State has now made their decision on what policies should be saved beyond this date. You can find further details on what policies are saved by viewing a copy of their direction (decision letter).

• To view policy text, click here. (Word and PDF formats);
• To view the Proposals Map, click here. (PDF and HTML formats) These give the best replication of the original paper document.
• Space About Dwellings*. SPG Supplement to Local Plan, Adopted October 1998 
• Extensions to Dwellings*. SPG Supplement to Local Plan, Adopted October 1998
• To view Policy Text for the Local Plan Saved Policies (Post September 2007) click here.

The Stafford Borough Local Plan 2001, was adopted on 18th October 1998, is the Council's statutory land-use plan for the whole of the Borough. The Plan guides development within the Borough over a 10 year period, and contains:

• Proposals for the development and use of land; 
• Specific allocations of land to meet the Borough's housing, employment and retail requirements; and
• Detailed policies to guide and control development through planning applications.

The overall aim of the Local Plan is to make provision for housing and employment development set out  in the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Structure Plan for the period 1986 - 2001, which balances the need for development with the protection and enhancement of the environment. The Local Plan guides and informs decisions as to whether or not planning permission should be granted, under the system known as development control. Legislation (Section 54A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) requires that decisions made should be in accordance with the Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Policies within the Local Plan are 'saved' in its entirity, until September 2007. The Borough Council is currently considering what policies it will save beyond September 2007 and details on this will be released later on in 2007.

You can view the contents of the Local Plan on the Planning Portal by clicking here. This allows you to link from the maps to policies and vice-versa. You can also switch policy layers on and off on the maps and can zoom to maps at different scales. (recommended for most users).

Preparation of the adopted Local Plan began in 1989 Following a Public Inquiry in 1994 - 1995 the Plan was adopted in 1998.  Work began on the Local Plan Review in 2001 to take account of the new Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Structure Plan 1996 - 2011. For details on the Local Plan review click here. This is now being done in the Local Development Framework click here for more information.

The Stafford Borough Local Plan was adopted following the Inspector's Binding Report issued in January 1997, to view the report please click here. To view the Adoption Notice, please click here.

Hard copies of the Local Plan can be viewed at any library within the Borough or at the Council's Riverside Office (Planning and Engineering Services, 3^rd floor reception). Alternatively the plan can be purchased for £40.00 (+ £4.00 for p&p) from this office.

*Electronic copies of documentation linked to this page may be in PDF format. To view documentation will require Adobe Acrobat that can be downloaded freely from www.adobe.com.