Stafford Borough Council - Local Plan consultation - 8th June - 28th July 2026
Dear Residents
Stafford Borough Council have provided this press release:
Residents and businesses will be able to share their views on the main issues facing Stafford Borough – and how a new plan could help address them.
Senior councillors agreed to start the ball rolling for communities to have a say in the future vision of the borough for decades to come.
Speaking at a meeting of the Cabinet on Thursday (21 May), Councillor Ant Reid, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Planning, said “The Local Plan is the key way we give our residents choice about development and preservation. Getting this done faster is vital and very welcome. The whole borough benefits from this.”
Having a Local Plan in place helps regulate development across the borough. The new Local Plan will cover eight main themes – from meeting the area’s housing and employment needs to helping mitigate climate change.
There will also be the opportunity to highlight issues that need to be addressed in a Local Plan such as flooding, increased traffic or loss of wildlife.
He said: “I want our residents to think about where the next generation will live, learn, work and spend leisure time, while ensuring our plans preserve our natural and built heritage. The work we are doing could shape our borough for the next 20 years and beyond. I want people to love where they live.”
The government set out reforms to speed up the plan making process – with a requirement for local authorities to prepare and adopt the plan within 30 months. Stafford Borough Council has received around £110,000 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to support technical studies, additional resources and engagement work.
An initial consultation is expected to be launched on Monday 8 June 2026 and will run until 12 noon on Tuesday 28 July.
Councillor Reid continued: “A robust Local Plan helps regulate where things can, and cannot, be built across our borough, can prevent inappropriate development, and help protect the environment, countryside and habitats.
“We must find the right balance that ensures we have strong economic growth while maintaining what our communities value most. From here on everything depends on residents, businesses and other groups – I’d ask everyone to take these consultations seriously and help us choose what goes where, when, and how.”
Further information at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/new-local-plan-2025-to-2045 or contact Strategicplanningconsultations@staffordbc.gov.uk
You will also be able to view the documents at libraries or the Civic Centre, Riverside, Stafford.
Press Release No 6296