Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Planning for Housing: Core Strategy Review

The Council adopted its Core Strategy in March 2010, however changing economic circumstances mean it needs to be looked at again from time to time. The Planning for Housing: Core Strategy Review Issues and Options consultation has now closed.  

We need to make sure we have suitable sites for new homes to give local people and developers certainty about the future.

The Core Strategy stated that the Council would focus on regenerating brownfield land alongside the river and in Stockton's core area. It relied on public money to solve problems like flooding and contamination which are difficult and expensive to put right. Now, there is much less money to help regenerate the most difficult sites the Council needs to look for new sites where houses can be built - the Planning for Housing consultation is the first stage in finding them. We are also considering the Council's policies on housing development in villages and all types of development at Wynyard.

From 11 July to 30 September 2011 we welcomed comments on the Core Strategy Review Issues and Options document and its supporting documents. All the relevant documents are still available online. They include:

• The Core Strategy Review Issues and Options document - this gives the full background to the Review and included detailed maps of all the sites being considered.
• An explanatory leaflet and questionnaire which outlines the main issues and options
• An overview map, showing the locations of all the sites being considered
• Some Frequently Asked Questions
• A Sustainability Appraisal of the Core Strategy Review Issues and Options document
• An initial Habitats Regulations Assessment Scoping Report

Paper copies of the documents are also available at Planning Reception, Gloucester House on Church Road in Stockton and at all libraries in the Borough.

The Spatial Planning team is now analysing all the comments received. We hope to publish the Council's Preferred Options for Planning for Housing in late spring 2012.

If you need more information or would like to speak to someone about the Core Strategy Review you can:

• Email any questions to spatialplans@stockton.gov.uk
• Telephone us on 01642 526050
• Visit Planning Reception, Gloucester House on Church Road in Stockton - we advise you telephone first to make sure someone will be available.