Newcastle-under-Lyme Town Planning Scheme Map Index

Description:This is the index for a collection of maps detailing Newcastle-under-Lyme's town planning scheme.
Town Planning was a fairly modern concept at the time and enabled the town council to look at the future expansion and use of land.
After World War I came to an end, several ‘Town Planning Acts’ were passed by the Government because of the huge demand for working-class housing.
Many of the working class houses that remained in the 1930s were classified as ‘slums’ they were over-crowed and outdated – most still had a privy in the yard, no garden and no running water. In the decades that followed many of these houses were demolished in the ‘slum clearances’.

On the maps you will see that different areas are shaded in colours according to their current and proposed use.
More public open spaces are earmarked as it was acknowledged that access to open spaces was good for the health and well-being of the townspeople.
The plans also look at new burial areas (cemeteries), sewers and agricultural land.

The collection of maps was finished on 12 October 1937 and was approved by J. Griffiths (clerk to the council).

Digitation funded by Heritage Lottery Fund.