'A development of this size is a whole new electoral ward'

MP raises concerns over plans for 3,000 homes on Green Belt

- Phil Corrigan Local Democracy Reporter

A STOKE-on-Trent MP has raised concerns in Parliament over plans to build 3,000 homes on Green Belt land in the city.

Allison Gardner, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, below, said her constituents were 'rightly worried' about the scale of development proposed for the land at Lightwood under Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s draft local plan.

The 116 hectare site, between Cocknage Road, Lightwood Road and Woodpark Lane, is one of 11 'broad locations' in the Green Belt earmarked for 10,499 homes between them. Once it is adopted, the local plan will guide all development in the city up to the year 2040, and will aim to meet Stoke-on-Trent’s government-set housing target of 948 homes a year.

Dr Gardner, who led a Westminster Hall debate on housing development in North Staffordshire, acknowledged the need to build more homes in the area, and claimed the Labour-run city council 'is doing the most building on brownfield sites on record.'

But she raised concerns about the development of so much Green Belt land in her constituency, and the lack of local infrastructure.