A BLUEPRINT to shape the future of Stockton with thousands of new homes is to be examined to see whether it is sound or not.

Stockton Council’s Local Plan will be subject to a three-week review beginning next week under the watchful eye of a government inspector.

The inspection will check whether or not the council’s plan is fit for purpose before it goes before the cabinet.

The draft plan was unveiled last year with sites in Eaglescliffe, Yarm, Wynyard and central Stockton all earmarked as potential housing development zones.

More than 10,000 new homes had been pencilled in as needed in the borough and the council’s initial blueprint identified 15 new sites for development.

Stockton has been touted for a westward extension with more than 2,500 new homes drawn into the plan.

And four sites north of Kirklevington are in the pipeline for housing.

Community facilities and infrastructure projects are also part of the blueprint with transport improvements to the A19/A689 interchange, a new Tees crossing and upgrades to the A689 at Wynyard also in the plan.

Cllr Nigel Cooke, Stockton Council cabinet member for housing, said: “We want to have a local plan in place to put us in a strong position to manage future development, deliver our priorities for the borough and make Stockton a great place to live and work.

“It has taken a lot of hard work from councillors, officers, residents and partners to get to this stage, and we look forward to hearing the inspector’s views.”

Inspector Matthew Birkenshaw, who has also scrutinised Redcar and Cleveland’s local plan, will be the one to cast his eye over Stockton’s blueprint.

He will consider all representations made in the next three weeks at 12 days of public sessions beginning on Tuesday, June 5, at Stockton Central Library.

Developers, residents’ associations, parish councils and clubs have all been invited to give evidence.