Middlesbrough council releases updated Local Plan for public

A document setting out Middlesbrough council’s ambition for city-scale development, new homes and economic growth has been opened to public consultation.

An updated Local Plan for Middlesbrough has been prepared which sets out the policies and land allocations to guide development in the town.

It aims to help facilitate the right type of development the council wishes to deliver to achieve its ambitions and support the long-term financial sustainability of the borough.

Although Middlesbrough Council already has an adopted Local Plan - and was one of the first authorities in the country to have it agreed - the updated version brings together various key strategies for the town.

A report approved by the council’s executive stated some of the aims are:

• Establishing Middlesbrough as the city centre for the Tees Valley.

• Securing high quality development and infrastructure to drive economic growth.

• Maintaining a thriving retail core that is a destination of choice.

• Redeveloping the railway station with a vibrant historic quarter.

• Delivering the snow centre in Middlehaven.

• Boosting the supply of high quality and affordable homes.

• Creating well designed, high quality places where people want to live.

Cllr Lewis Young, executive member for economic development and infrastructure, said: “The Local Plan sets out our strategic vision for Middlesbrough as the Tees Valley city centre.

“Middlesbrough Council is one of few local authorities in the North East to have a Local Plan, and doing so means we have a greater control over the type of developments we want to see, as well as giving confidence to both ourselves and any future developer.

“We are now reviewing the Local Plan, and the report tabled at executive was the next - but by no means final - stage of that process. Following its approval at executive, we will now move to the consultation stage which will give the public the chance to give their views.”

Under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, local authority are required to prepare a ‘statutory development plan’, otherwise known as a Local Plan.

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