A video providing a whistlestop tour for a major consultation on future plans for Stafford Borough has been launched. 

The two-minute video gives an overview of key issues in the ‘Local Plan’ - with the first of a series of events taking place next week as part of the consultation which runs until December. 

People can watch the two-minute video on Youtube. 

And residents, businesses and organisations are being urged to register for the online consultation event on Wednesday 9 November at 7.30pm where borough council officers will be on hand to share more information about the ‘Local Plan’ and answer questions from the public. 

Further drop in exhibitions will be taking place at various venues during November with full details of dates, times and places from Stafford Borough Local Plan 2020-2040 | Stafford Borough Council (staffordbc.gov.uk) 

The ‘Local Plan’ sets out a proposed planning strategy for Stafford Borough until 2040. The seven-week consultation on the new ‘Local Plan - Preferred Options Report’ will finish on Monday 12 December 2022. 

Highlighted in the plan are proposals for new schools, a GP surgery, indoor leisure, and a railway station as part of a garden village in the north of the borough called Meecebrook - with a network of cycling and walking routes, around 6,000 homes through to 2040 and beyond, as well as employment land.  

Since the current ‘Local Plan’ was adopted in 2014 significant changes in national planning guidelines have been introduced, which have had an impact on the council’s local policies. 

And Councillor Frances Beatty, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Planning, urged as ‘many people as possible’ to take part in the consultation. 

She said: “This will be a widespread consultation and we are very keen that as many people as possible are aware of what will be the blueprint for the whole of the borough for the next 20 years. 

“We have produced a short video for the first time outlining those plans, we have several consultation events running both online and in person, and people can also find all the information, and take part in the consultation, through our website.” 

She continued: “It is very important we have an up to date, adopted plan so that everybody will know where building can take place, how much development will be allowed, and when this will happen.” 

The ‘Local Plan,’ along with all the comments, is due to go before the Secretary of State in late 2023 who will then appoint an Independent Planning Inspector to set up a public examination to decide whether the plan is acceptable. 

The proposed ‘Meecebrook’ garden village near Cold Meece has already received government backing of around £1.4 million to help prepare infrastructure studies to see if the scheme is viable. For more information and to keep up with the proposals go to www.staffordbc.gov.uk/meecebrook-new-garden-settlement  

The timetable of events for the ‘Local Plan - Preferred Options’ is: 

• Wednesday 9 November: 7.30pm-8.30pm. Register for the online consultation  
• Thursday 10 November: 4pm-8pm. Jubilee Room, Eccleshall Community Centre  
• Monday 14 November: 4pm-8pm. Grosvenor Centre, Gnosall  
• Tuesday 15 November: 4pm-8pm. Westbridge Room, Christchurch, Stone 
• Saturday 19 November: 11am-3.45pm. Stafford, Central Library 

All information on the ‘Local Plan’ can be found at Stafford Borough Local Plan 2020-2040 | Stafford Borough Council (staffordbc.gov.uk)

Press Release No 5963