Summary of Planning and Infrastructure Forum

Planning and Infrastructure Forum

During the latest Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce Planning and Infrastructure Forum, the concept of the ’15-minute city’ vision was discussed, which aims to meet most residents’ daily needs within a short walk or cycle ride from home. Members agreed that city infrastructure, such as cycle routes and paths, would need to be upgraded to support this vision.

A presentation on Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s Local Plan was given, outlining the long-term vision and development strategy for the Borough. The Council seeks views from the business community on potential future large-scale employment-led sites in the Borough.

Updates were provided on the Local Plans of various District Councils, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were introduced and found to be relevant to the earlier discussions on the Local Plan.

In the “Any Other Business” section, it was reported that Mondrem CIC has been successful in improving the performance of council planning application teams, leading to a faster and better customer experience. Members also discussed the need for more support in the area of planning, with some being part of the British Chambers of Commerce Expert Planning Panel and meeting with Ministers to address this concern.

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