🥨 A word from Helen, editor/writer at The Knot
Hi, how are you? Welcome to The Knot’s weekly round-up of positive news from across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire – here to brighten your Monday.
Stoke-on-Trent’s Local Plan has been established to guide development across the city through to 2040, with the policies and site allocations agreed now potentially influencing where new homes and other development take place, how land is managed, and what type of infrastructure is needed to support our communities.
It has met with huge anger in some parts of the city. The proposed BL1 site at Lightwood, which has an allocation for up to 3,000 homes on 113 hectares of Green Belt land, has been described by campaigners as effectively creating another sizeable settlement between Lightwood, Cocknage, Rough Close and Meir Heath.
Packmoor has also generated considerable opposition to up to 800 homes on council-owned farmland. Former Labour councillor Dave Mountford actually defected to the Potteries Party partly over the proposed development at Packmoor.
Elsewhere, BL5 at Eaves Lane in Bucknall, which is allocated for around 1,139 homes, has a petition against its inclusion with 1,515 signatures. And originally, two sites around Norton Green were earmarked for 3,097 homes combined, which been reduced to 520 homes. But residents are still unhappy, citing increased pressure on roads and services and the loss of greenfield land.
There is also opposition to BL2 at Trentham, which would provide around 500 homes on land next to Trentham Golf Club. Residents have particularly raised concerns about additional traffic on the A34/Stone Road.
This is the final stage of consultation, known as Regulation 19, before the Local Plan is submitted to an independent government inspector for examination.
The council is aiming to submit the Local Plan to the independent government inspector in December 2026. Once submitted, the inspector will consider whether the proposed Plan meets the required tests and is legally compliant.
Further information about the consultation, including details of how to make a formal representation, is available from Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Local Plan consultation page
Have a fab week, and don’t miss Wednesday’s feature on saving local high streets, which includes the lovely success story of Dimbleby Ceramics in Longton, which is attracting people from all over the world to its pottery workshops, plus insights from Keele University’s senior politics lecturer Dr Philip Catney.
PS: We’d love to grow The Knot and reach more people who enjoy positive local news and insightful journalism. If you know someone who’d like it too, we’d be so grateful if you could share this newsletter with a friend, family member or colleague. Thank you so much for your support!
Good News 🎉
🏡 Have your say on the Local Plan. Hundreds of residents have already spoke to council officers at consultation events on Stoke-on-Trent’s proposed Local Plan. There are still opportunities this week if you want to understand what this proposed Local Plan means for you, your family, your community and the city as a whole. This includes Longton Library (01/09, 4pm-7pm) Tunstall Library (02/09, 4pm-7pm) and City Central Library (03/09, 4pm-7pm). There’s no need to book, just turn up and put your questions to the council. The Local Plan consultation ends at 11.59pm on 14 September and you can have your say here if you can’t make those dates.
🏃♀️THE KNOT’S PERSON OF THE WEEK – Jazmin Sawyers 🏃♀️
After overcoming an Achilles injury, local athlete Jazmin Sawyers, who used to train at Northwood Stadium with the City of Stoke Athletics Club, has had a fantastic summer. She claimed gold in the women's long jump at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on 1 August with a leap of 6.93 metres, followed by silver at the 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham on 16 August with 6.99m, a personal best. Here’s Jazmin posing with her medals alongside her portrait on the city’s 100 Years, 100 Faces mural. Well done, Jazmin!
🚒 Sandyford firefighter discharged from hospital. A firefighter who worked to tackle the serious fire has been discharged from hospital after 13 days, including a week receiving treatment in critical care. He still has a journey of recovery ahead and will continue to be supported by the service. Meanwhile, recovery work is continuing in Sandyford to make sure the area is safe. Several families have now relocated from emergency accommodation into longer-term housing arrangements. You can donate to the Sandyford Fire Recovery Fund here.
👩🏫 Council moves to protect Falcon Works. Following concerns about the condition of the site, the former potbank on Sturgess Street, which is home to two Grade II listed bottle ovens, the council has begun work to protect as much of the historic complex as possible, with the costs recovered from the owners. Where structures pose an immediate danger, some elements may need to be dismantled to prevent further damage to the wider historic site.
🚧 See Burslem Market Hall. You can get a sneak peek of the multi-million-pound regeneration work taking place at Burslem Market Hall from the middle of next month. A viewing window has been installed at 32 Queen Street, which backs onto the indoor market space where work to restore the Grade II listed building is being carried out. In addition to stripping back and replacing the current roof, work is progressing on the brickwork, guttering and other external features. Inside, a temporary events space is being created that organisations can use in the short to mid-term. You can view the works on Tuesdays from 15 September.
😃 Our Top Five Don’t-Miss Events this Week. Comic Con is coming to Stoke, well Fenton Manor actually, on 26/09 from 10am-4pm. Browse anime-related stalls and meet celebrities from TV and the movies! Fans attending are also invited to dress up as your favourite TV, film or other fictional character and be ready to compete in our cosplay competitions! Tickets £5 kids, £9 adults; £11 for early entry and £25 for a family ticket (two adults, two children).
It’s nearly time for the Potters Arf Marathon! (04/10), which features a 5k fun run, half marathon walk, and half marathon relay – Lou Macari will be this year’s honorary starter. Star of Travel Man and cult classic The IT Crowd, Richard Ayoade is at the Regent (19/10) to explore notions such as where’s the box to tick if you are a robot and if, when one door shuts, another door opens, there's something wrong with your doors; tickets from £41.90.
The perfect Hallowe’en warm-up, Friday Twilight – Beware the Werewolf (23/10, 7.30pm-9.30pm, bar opens at 6pm) at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, an eerie stage drama written and performed by Jonathan Goodwin, is sure to give you the chills; tickets £15. If you want the Hallowe’en vibes to carry on, check out the Bishton Hall Ghost Hunt (21/11, 8pm-2am) in Wolseley Bridge, which is said to be haunted by the ghost of Charlotte Sparrow, who inherited the house from her father, with special guest investigators Tracey and Andy Lindon of Whispered Encounters; tickets £59 per person.
🥨 Most popular stories from the last week on The Knot
🏙️ A Hanley Heritage Day is proving popular: We highlighted Heritage Day ‘Exploring Hanley’s Monuments and Stories’. Get along there on 19/09 for some historic fun!
🍺 Taprooms, sushi, pizza, a music venue: Read our story on the plans for Newcastle as Capital & Centric gets ready to launch its four regeneration projects next year
😅 Reform councillor resigns from wrong council: Whoops! Christine Duffy handed her resignation in to Kidsgrove Town Council even though she represented Newcastle
Weekly Weather (Stoke-on-Trent): It’s bank holiday, so it’s raining, of course 😆
Mon 🌦️ 18° (10°) Tue 🌧️ 20° (13°) Wed 🌧️ 20° (13°) Thu 🌧️ 20° (14°) Fri 🌧️ 19° (12°) Sat ☁️ 21° (13°) Sun ☀️ 21° (11°).
Sunrise 31/08: 06.16 ☀️ Sunset 31/08: 20.01 🌅