Planning Policy for Fenton

Fenton lies on the boundary between the Stoke-on-Trent Inner Urban Area Spatial Strategy and the Stoke Outer Urban Area Spatial Strategy, with the eastern boundary to the Inner Urban Area defined by Fenton Manor, as set out in the Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent Core Spatial Strategy Document 2006-2026 (adopted 2009). However Fenton is covered by the strategies set out for the Outer Urban Area.

Stoke Outer Urban Area Spatial Strategy

The strategy sets out the following visions for the Outer Urban Area:

“The Strategy will provide for increased vitality and vibrancy of Longton, Tunstall, Fenton town and Meir centres and improve accessibility and availability of modern local facilities.  Housing growth will be focused to address specific regeneration priorities at general densities of 50 dwellings per hectare, and the creation of new employment opportunities through major new development will maximise economic potential.  Regeneration of the Outer Urban Areas will create sustainable communities, which complements the major growth planned for the City Centre and Inner Urban Core. Tunstall and Longton will continue to provide important district centre facilities serving the north and south of the City.  Fenton and Meir remain as important centres in their own right. The character form and function of older residential areas will be improved and steps taken to improve and diversify the tenure of many social housing estates built in the suburbs of the City.”

Within the strategy Fenton is defined as a Significant Urban Centre that "derives its town centre designation because of its historic role, rather than its retailing provision which is more characteristic of a local centre." Its current retail provisions is described as "limited" and there is "scope for an additional 500m2 of retail development, to serve a local catchment only." Furthermore Fenton is to serve as "a sport and leisure focus for the City", possibly because of the Fenton Manor Sports Complex and its close proximity to the Britannia Stadium.

Local Development Framework City of Stoke-on-Trent Proposals Map.
Detail of Fenton and surrounding area.

The 2011 Quick Guide produced by the Planning Department states that any area not covered by the City Centre and Etruia Road Corridor Area Action Plan or Inner Urban Core Action Plan will be covered by the Portfolio Development Plan Document. This document is currently under production is due to be published sometime in Ocotber 2011 and as such the most relevant information pertaining to Fenton has so far been found in the LDF document and proposals for the Outer Urban Area.

Earlier guidance, specifically the Revised City Plan 2001, designated two areas of wildlife interest in Fenton at the Manorfields Pool (Fenton Manor) and Smith's Pool, Fenton Manor was also highlighted as a site of particular known nature conservation interest. It also described two Local Centres (a third tier ofdesignation below Regional and District Centres) within Fenton: Kwik Save, 37-75 (odd nos) & 48-114 (even nos) Victoria Road; and 239-321 (odd nos) City Road, 5-15 (odd nos) & 2-26 (even nos) Christchurch Street, 7-17 (odd nos) Manor Street, & 2 Fountain Street.

Planning Policy for Stoke-on-Trent

Planning Policy for Fenton is set by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and provides a framework to "guide and control the development of land and buildings in the area", it also "sets out proposals as to how it should develop in the future." The Planning Policy Team at the Council maintains a number of documents, including the Local Development Framework or LDF (in time this will replace the City of Stoke-on-Trent Local Plan of 1993), which sets out of the guidelines and can be used to assess planning applications. There is a hierarchy to these strategies, with a number of Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) which "provide greater detail on the planning policies produced by Local Authorities". The Local Development Scheme is the "keystone" to the Local Development Framework and is a management document that enables the public to find out what planning policies are currently in force.

Hierarchy of the Local Development Framework in the City of Stoke-on-Trent.

The new Government has "clearly signalled their intention to rapidly abolish Regional Strategies" but as legislation regarding this abolition is still emerging these policies will still have a standing on development. As such the Stoke-on-Trent City Council will continue to use targets set out in the adopted (2009) Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent Core Spatial Strategy. This strategy "provides the foundation for detailed modern planning policy and supports delivery of North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership and regeneration priorities in the City and North Staffordshire."

Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent Core Spatial Strategy

The Council is currently working on three strategic documents (as of Spring 2011): The City Centre and Etruia Road Corridor Area action Plan; the Inner Urban Core Area Action Plan; and the Development Portfolio DPD (or the Outer Urban Area). These new plans will guide development over the next 10-20 years with the aim being that: "‘The Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme and the City of Stoke-on-Trent will be a prosperous, vibrant, environmentally responsible and successful area of choice for businesses, visitors and residents in the period up to 2026."

Strategic Sub Areas (adopted 2009)

The LDF states that "The polycentric nature of the conurbation means that the plan area contains a number of highly distinctive centres." It sets out a number of Strategic Centres (including the City Centre of Stoke-on-Trent defined by the "traditional core city centre bounded by the Potteries Way Ring Road"), Significant Urban Centres (including Fenton), Local Urban Centres, Rural Service Centres and Villages.

LDF City of Stoke-on-Trent Proposals Map (North and South combined)

Furthermore the LDF adds that:

"The physical, social and economic landscape of the plan area is extremely diverse, and presents a multitude of different challenges and opportunities.  To ensure that the Core Spatial Strategy addresses these challenges and opportunities efficiently and comprehensively, the plan area has been divided into six distinct strategic sub areas."

Each centre is to have a clearly defined role within the wider spatial strategy.

Strategic and Spatial Strategies Diagram

For a summary of Planning Policy in the City of Stoke-on-Trent see the following quick guide, produced by the Council in January 2011, here.