Newcastle Borough Council faces tough decision on Local Plan amid rising housing targets

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is facing a critical decision on whether to accept the Local Plan 2020-2040 as it prepares for a Full Council meeting on 8th July.

The plan, drawn up by the previous administration over three years and submitted for examination in December 2024, has been scrutinised by a Planning Inspector whose final report was delivered on 19th May 2026.

Jonathan Gullis, the leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, expressed concerns over the plan inherited by his administration, citing burdensome regulations and site allocations he believes should have been handled differently.

Gullis's enquiries to amend the plan were met with the statement that there is "no mechanism" for changes to the Inspector's final report.

"This leaves us with a binary choice: accept the Local Plan placed before us or reject it and accept the legal and planning consequences," Gullis said.

In addition to these challenges, the government has required the council to plan for over 2,000 extra homes due to increased housing targets, necessitating the development of a new Local Plan for 2030-2045, despite potential future borough abolishment under Local Government Reorganisation plans.

Gullis expressed frustration over current proceedings: "We cannot undo every decision made before we arrived, but we will not hide from responsibility either. Our duty is to be straight with residents and fight for the best possible outcome for Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough."

The Full Council meeting will explore the implications of both options in hopes of determining the best course of action for the borough's future.

The 2020-2040 plan provides for 400 new homes annually, whereas the forthcoming 2030-2045 plan will have to cater to 559 dwellings per year.

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