East Boldon Neighbourhood Forum
Welcome to our website! Our Neighbourhood Plan is complete and following the referendum in October 2021 has been adopted by South Tyneside Council.
The Forum’s work continues and members will be notified when the next meeting is arranged.
On Thursday, 29 July 2026 South Tyneside Council finally adopted the Local Plan (2023-2040). More information is available on the Council’s website and here.
At the same time, the Council have announced that they are to start work on another, new, Local Plan, see https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/30610/Council-to-Launch-New-Local-Plan-Process-Alongside-Existing-Plan
Central Government has issued a “notice of designation” (see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/south-tyneside-council-notice-of-designation) which allows applicants of major developments (over 10 units) to apply to the Secretary of State for planning decisions rather than the local authority.
Other recent activity and news includes:
- South Tyneside Council Adopts the Local Plan
On Thursday, 29 July 2026 South Tyneside Council voted to adopt the South Tyneside Local Plan (2023-2040), after the Planning Inspector found it to be sound subject to a series of modifications. For more details see the Council’s website. - LAND AT NORTH FARM WEST -THE BOKER LANE STORY
The Church Commissioners are currently (as of July 2026) consulting on a proposal which would see the development of the land at North Farm West, also referred to as Boker Lane. Comments can be left on their web page at https://www.bokerlane.co.uk/ - Examination Of Draft Local Plan Complete
Forum representatives presented our case during the second stage of the public examination of the Council’s Draft Local Plan and were complimented by the Examiner. - St. George’s Green Space Project Autumn Fundraiser
Join us on Saturday 25 October 2025 at St. George’s Church, Front Street to help raise further funds to improve the green space in front of the church. - Withdrawal of funding for Neighbourhood Plans
A petition being circulated by 38 Degrees which calls on the government not to withdraw the funding which enables communities like ours to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan. For the past 10 years, the government provided funding through Locality to enable Town and Parish Councils and Neighbourhood Forums develop Neighbourhood Plans but they now plan to withdraw the funding.
Forum re-designation
The Forum successfully applied to South Tyneside Council for re-designation as a Neighbourhood Forum, this was confirmed at a cabinet meeting on 4 January 2023.
Click here for information on the Community Actions which were included in the Neighbourhood Plan and please let us know if you have any ideas about them or you’d like to help.
If you have any questions about the Forum or the Neighbourhood Plan please leave a message on the website or send a text to 07435373879. Please remember to provide some contact details.
For a quick overview of the policies in the Plan please see this page or click here to read the full plan.
The Forum has been active since 2016. We have created a visual timeline to show the progress which has been achieved since the idea of a Neighbourhood Forum for East Boldon was first suggested in November 2016. Please click to see more details.
We will add more information and links to support each of the items on the timeline as they become available.
Neighbourhood Forums have a legal standing and allow residents to influence (but not prevent) future development in their area. The East Boldon Neighbourhood Forum was designated by South Tyneside Council in January 2018. Since then, the Forum has been working on the development of a Neighbourhood Plan which will be subject to a referendum later in 2021.
Funding, Independence and Membership
The Forum is an independent body which was previously mainly funded by Government grants which were specifically available to support the development of Neighbourhood Plans across the country. However, once the Neighbourhood Plan is in place such funding is no longer available.
In March 2024 a Just Giving page was made available to allow anyone who wished to to contribute a small amount to the running of the Forum.
The Forum does not support nor is it linked to or supported by any political party.
It is required to work with interested stakeholders and consequently will continue to work with Council representatives and Councillors to ensure the delivery of a Neighbourhood Plan for East Boldon.
Anyone over the age of 16 who lives, works or is an elected councillor in the Forum area (which includes elements of the Cleadon / East Boldon and West Boldon / Boldon Colliery council wards) is entitled to become a member of the Forum. If you’d like to join the Forum, please complete the application form and we’ll get in touch with you.
A selection of previous posts:
South Tyneside Council Adopts the Local Plan
LAND AT NORTH FARM WEST -THE BOKER LANE STORY
Examination Of Draft Local Plan Complete
St. George’s Green Space Project Autumn Fundraiser
Withdrawal of funding for Neighbourhood Plans
July 2025 Update – Attendance at Examination Of Draft Local Plan and More
Examination Of Draft Local Plan
Come And Learn About The St. George’s Green Space Project
For more details on the Forum please see the About Us or Forum Facts pages.
If you wish to contact us for any reason please leave your details on the Contact Us page.
Forum Officers
All members of the Forum are volunteers from the local community, the current elected Officials are:
Photographs courtesy of Phil Payne