New local plan to be kicked off by Stockton's council leaders

Leaders on Stockton Council are set to ask for agreement to start a new Local Plan – a key document which outlines the authority’s future planning priorities.

The cabinet is being asked to kick off the “getting ready stage” for preparing a new plan over the next three-and-a-half years.

The last Local Plan was adopted in January 2019. It sets out council proposals to guide planning decisions until 2032, covering how many new homes are needed, where they should be built, the amount and location of new employment land, how to protect and enhance the natural and historic environment, and plans for new infrastructure and improved town centres and facilities.

If the decision is approved at Thursday’s cabinet meeting, the authority will give notice to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government “to commence plan-making” by the end of the year. It will also recommend a full update of the Local Plan to the full council, with a timetable to be prepared.

A council report says: “The associated recommendations will enable progression of the Local Plan through the ‘getting ready’ stage and support the completion of all necessary preparatory steps required to enter the formal plan-making process.”

A “scoping consultation” is expected to give residents, community groups, businesses and others a chance to get updates.

And a cross-party “consultative and advisory steering group” is to be set up, with seven councillors to sit on the politically balanced working group to provide ongoing debate and dialogue as the plan progresses.

Stockton Council needs to complete a self-assessment by the end of April 2027. This will be followed by a 30-month period “within which the Local Plan must progress through all stages to adoption”, including two more plan consultations.

The first stage – getting ready for preparing a new Local Plan – will include publishing a timetable, issuing a notice, putting arrangements in place, working out how to consult and the “anticipated content of the plan including baseline information, vision, land availability and evidence”, and moving an environmental assessment forward.

Once the 30-month period starts, the council must finalise the plan’s draft vision, aims and objectives, consider site selection and gather evidence for key priorities like housing, employment land and infrastructure.

It will need to speak to stakeholders, carry out public consultation on the proposed plan for at least six weeks, and start drafting planning policies, then it must publish a consultation summary highlighting issues raised.

The council will then seek advice and observations from the Planning Inspectorate, the government executive agency which deals with planning appeals and examination of local plans. Then another eight-week consultation will be held.

The plan will eventually be sent to the Planning Inspectorate for examination where its “overall soundness is tested”, and people who have commented on it will have the chance to present their views. Changes may be suggested, more consultation will be needed on these and an inspector may pause the examination for up to six months for more work to be done.

The new Local Plan will finally be adopted after the examination is successful. The Secretary of State has powers to step in if not enough progress is being made on making the plan.