The plan for Cloughton was developed in a three-day workshop in the village in November 2008. Sponsored by The Duchy of Lancaster, the workshop involved a team consisting of residents, Local Authority officers and professional consultants (led by ESHA). The objective was to set out a strategy for the future of the village despite the recent loss of shop and post office and a high street which has become a fast trunk road. The proposal, which provides a new square at the heart of the village housing a new post office/shop, village hall, playgroup and doctor's surgery, and also includes 160 new houses close to the square to finance these facilities and to sustain them and the village into the future. The new buildings are designed to be indistinguishable from the old ones. The plan has been supported in a resident's vote by a 66% majority.