Some scenes in the masterplan of what green spaces would be provided alongside the homes

Preston City Council’s blueprint for how the city should develop faces a public test from Tuesday.

A two-day hearing at the Town Hall will see a planning inspector discuss the long-term strategy for how thousands of new homes are to be built in Preston.

The Preston Local Plan is the document which is to govern where new homes should be built and the city council want to focus housebuilding on the North West corner of the city.

Planning officers face questions from the Inspector on what they plan to do if there is still a shortfall in housing.

The scheme branded as Garden City, which would see more than 5,500 homes built around the Cottam area in an arch stretching up to Fulwood, has a whole day of interrogation dedicated to it.

The Cottam Hall site in the plan is not dependant on the Cottam link road being built along with a new train station. Consultation on the Local Plan identified a problem with transport in the area.

One statement from the Inspecto states: “In view of what is said by representatives of the development industry can I be satisfied that the Council’s assumptions about deliverability are realistic? How are the on-going discussions likely to affect implementation? Does the Council have a contingency plan should the development not progress as expected?”

The Local Plan outlines development in the city until 2026.

Inspector John R Mattocks is to chair the hearings.

It starts on Tuesday 21 October from 10am at Room A in the Town Hall and continues on Wednesday 22 October.

You can view the full local plan and hearing details on the city council website.