HARRIS LAMB SECURES GREY BELT PERMISSIONS FOR MAJOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN STOKE-ON-TRENT

Planners at Harris Lamb have secured their first planning permission for a Grey Belt site since new land use classifications were implemented by the Government.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council determined that plans submitted on behalf of Goodwin International Ltd for the construction of two manufacturing buildings on land adjacent to Newstead Industrial Estate met new parameters set out in the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework.

The plans to build two industrial units at the site will allow the company’s continued growth and facilitate the creation of 100 highly skilled new jobs within the region.

The two units will provide over 200,000 sq ft of floorspace including office space and ancillary accommodation, and have an eaves height of 21m to meet Goodwin’s operational requirements.

John Pearce, who acted for Goodwin International, said: “Ever since the revised NPPF was published in December 2024, there has been a great deal of speculation and concern that while it laid out conditions that meant certain Green Belt areas should be reclassified as Grey Belt, local authorities could resist the changes and reject proposals that met the new parameters, so we are delighted that Stoke-on-Trent City Council has granted this important application approval in keeping with the new policies.

“Goodwin International is a major employer within the region, and these plans demonstrate its ongoing commitment to the City, cementing its long-term future in the local area.

“The authority acknowledged that it was essential that the new development be located near to the existing premises at Newstead, and approved the application subject to conditions,” he said.

The report to the Council’s planning committee stated: “On the basis of this latest national policy guidance, our view is that the site should be considered as ‘grey belt’, and that the development would not constitute inappropriate development. Despite the site’s location within the Green Belt, the proposals are considered to be acceptable, subject to securing appropriate mitigation which would include delivery of appropriate landscape screening.

A spokesperson for Goodwin International said: “We are delighted with the outcome of our planning application for expansion of our facilities on Newstead Industrial Estate. Harris Lamb’s knowledge around the planning system has been invaluable; we have experienced a change in Government and subsequently several changes to the NPPF, each time Harris Lamb were instantly up to speed with changes and advising us on the updates. I would highly recommend Harris Lamb and we shall be using them in the future.”