Borough's emerging Local Plan enters next stage
Councillors will consider the Publication Draft Local Plan for Stockton-on-Tees at a series of meetings in September.
The document sets out a vision for the future development of the Borough in relation to housing, the economy, community facilities and infrastructure up to 2032.
Just over 10,000 new homes will be needed in the Borough during that time as the population continues to grow.
Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Councillor Bob Cook, said: "We are working hard to get a Local Plan in place as soon as we can because having one will put us in the strongest position possible to manage future development in the Borough.
"Consultation on the initial Draft Local Plan revealed an enormous appetite from developers and landowners to build more housing in the Borough. Dozens of sites were submitted and we've had to assess the viability of each of them. This has resulted in the allocation of a further five housing sites in the Publication Draft.
The additional five sites allocated as a result of the nine week public consultation on the initial Draft Local Plan are as follows:
- Queens Park North (expanded into adjacent land to the west)
- Alma House
- Land off Grangefield Road (Thompson's Scrap Yard)
- Magister Road
- Eaglescliffe Golf Course
Councillor Bob Cook said: "It's encouraging to see the former Thompson's Scrap Yard among the additional sites identified because it's exactly the kind of brownfield site that we'd like to see developed and it is also within walking distance of Stockton Town Centre.
"The site's owners are keen to develop around 500 homes on the site, and we hope that the Government is prepared to allocate the necessary funds to bring former industrial sites like this one back into use.
Members of the Council's Planning Committee will be invited to comment on the latest version of the plan - the Publication Draft - when they meet on Wednesday, September 6.
The document is then scheduled for consideration by Cabinet on September 14, and Full Council on September 20. If it is agreed by Council, a further six week public consultation will then follow.
Submission to Government will follow in the Autumn, with examination in public targeted for Spring 2018 and formal adoption in Summer 2018.