Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the impact of there being no approved Local Plan in Newcastle-under-Lyme on people living, learning and working in that area.

In the absence of an up-to-date local plan, there is a high likelihood that development will come forward on a piecemeal and speculative basis, with reduced public engagement and fewer guarantees that it will make the most of an area's potential.

It is for these reasons that this government has been clear that we expect all local planning authorities to make every effort to get up-to-date plans in place as soon as possible.

The Newcastle-under-Lyme Local Plan is currently subject to public examination by an independent Inspector. Updates on the progress of the examination are published on the Borough Council’s’ website here.