Stafford Borough Council are currently assessing the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic and the recently published Government planning reforms on the New Local Plan 2020-2040 and its timetable. Whilst technical work is progressing to support the next stage of the New Local Plan, the Preferred Option consultation stage scheduled for January 2021 will not take place. An updated version of the Local Development Scheme will be published in due course.
The Local Development Scheme 2019 sets out the Council's work programme for the preparation of new planning policy documents, together with a description of their contents. This is updated from time to time to reflect progress with existing policy documents and the inclusion of new ones in the work programme.
On 5 September 2019 the Council's Cabinet approved an updated programme for the New Local Plan 2020-2040, summarised below:-
| Process Stage | Proposed Completion Date |
|---|---|
| Commencement | July 2017 |
| Issues and Options Report | July 2018 to March 2020 |
| Preferred Options Report | January 2021 |
| Formal publication of the proposed new plan | June 2021 |
| Submission of the proposed new plan to the Planning Inspectorate | December 2021 |
| Examination of the proposed new plan | March 2022 |
| Adoption of the new local plan | October 2022 |