KEELE NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN: REGULATION 16 PUBLICITY AND INVITATION TO SUBMIT REPRESENTATIONS (3 AUGUST – 28 SEPTEMBER 2026)
Keele Parish Council (the qualifying body) has formally submitted the Keele Rural Neighbourhood Plan to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.
Consultation on the draft Keele Neighbourhood Plan starts from Monday 3 August until Monday 28 September 2026 to provide an opportunity for all parties to comment on whether the submitted plan meets the basic conditions (as detailed below) before it goes to examination. This consultation is known as the Regulation 16 stage in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012.
The basic conditions are that:
- It is appropriate having regard to national policy and advice contained in guidance
- Contributes to the achievement of sustainable development
- The making of the neighbourhood development plan would not result in the development plan for the area of the authority proposing that less housing is provided by means of development taking place in that area than if the neighbourhood development plan were not made
- It does not breach and is compatible with retained EU obligations
- It meets and complies with prescribed conditions e.g. whether or not it has a significant effect on habitats sites.
- Has complied with any environmental outcomes report requirements, where those apply (please note that until such time as a completed framework for the implementation of Environmental Outcomes Reports and secondary legislation is in place, compliance with this Basic Condition cannot be assessed)
In addition, whilst not basic conditions, the qualifying body must demonstrate that, so far as is appropriate having regard to the subject matter of the plan that:
- a) the plan is designed to secure that the development and use of land in the neighbourhood area contribute to the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change; and,
- b) the plan is designed to take account of any Local Nature Recovery Strategy prepared under section 104 of the Environment Act 2021 that relates to all or part of the neighbourhood area.
All comments on the Keele Neighbourhood Plan must be made directly to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council before the deadline of 5pm on Monday 28 September 2026. To review the Neighbourhood Plan, the notice of submission and its accompanying documents, please visit the Keele Neighbourhood Plan section of the Borough Council’s website using the website link below:
https://www.newcastle-staffs.gov.uk/KeeleNPReg16
Paper copies of the consultation documents are also available (during opening hours) to view at:
- Silverdale Library (High Street, ST5 6LY)
- St John the Baptist Church porch (Church Bank, Keele, ST5 5AT)
- Keele University Student Union (ST5 5BJ)
- Newcastle-under-Lyme Library (Castle House, ST5 1BL).
Representations (comments) can be made in these ways:
- Completing and submitting an online feedback form – available via the weblink above
- Via e-mail to planningpolicy@newcastle-staffs.org.uk
- by post to Planning Policy, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Castle House, Barracks Road, Newcastle-under-Lyme, ST5 1BL
Following the 8-week consultation period, all comments received will be sent to an Independent Examiner who will examine the neighbourhood plan. If the Independent Examiner determines that the plan meets the basic conditions with or without modifications, the Council, in conjunction with the qualifying body who produced the Neighbourhood Plan, will consider their recommendations and decide whether the plan will proceed to referendum which will determine whether to ‘make’ (adopt) the Keele Neighbourhood Plan.
For further information please contact the Planning Policy Team on 01782 742456 or via email at planningpolicy@newcastle-staffs.gov.uk