Following the release of the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in December 2024, South Tyneside Council will vote again on the Local Plan at meeting on Thursday 27 February. In September 2024 councillors voted 26 to 23 with one abstention to reject the Local plan.
What Has Changed ?
The Council have not changed their Local Plan but the new NPPF has introduced mandatory targets for all councils and in South Tyneside the annual housing requirement INCREASES from the current target of 309 units to 623, which equates to some 3,115 new homes over the next 5 years. Across the borough, the new NPPF increases the total housing requirement 5,243 to 10,591 over the 17 year plan period.
The NPPF also introduces the concept “Grey Belt” which is land in the Green Belt comprising previously developed land and/or any other land that in either case “does not strongly contribute to:
- check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas;
- prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another;
- preserve the setting and special character of historic towns.”
Why vote again now ?
The NPPF includes transitional arrangements which give the Council until 12 March 2025 to submit the current plan for examination.
If the Council approve the plan it will go forward for examination by an Independent Examiner later this year. If the examiner approves the plan (they might approve it subject to some changes) the council would adopt it.
However, if the plan is not approved then the council will need to submit a new Local Plan which is compliant with the NPPF by December 2026.
What is the Forum’s view ?
The topic was discussed at the Forum meeting held on 10 February 2025 which was attended by Cllr. Herbert. The views expressed in the meeting encouraged the adoption of the existing Local Plan given the significant risk to Green Belt introduced by the NPPF and from possible speculative development in areas which the Forum successfully had removed from earlier drafts of the plan. (e.g. Natley Ave / St John’s Terrace, land north of Kendal Drive)
This DOES NOT MEAN that the Forum supports the current version of the Local Plan but it considers that more protection is provided for the Green Belt, especially within the Forum area, by adopting it rather than starting on a new plan which would need to be compliant with the higher housing targets set out in the new NPPF.
If the current draft local plan does proceed to independent examination, Members of the Forum Executive expect to be able to speak at the examination of the plan to highlight members objections and concerns that were submitted in response to the Council’s consultation on the plan, held last year.
The following statement summarises the position:
EBNF, whilst objecting to the housing allocation at North Farm in the current local plan, believes that if the plan is rejected, a new version will be subject to the new NPPF requirements and will therefore result in a doubling of the housing numbers required for South Tyneside. This will lead to a further review of the green belt and will result in many more houses being proposed in and around the Boldons, Cleadon and Whitburn. This will have serious consequences for nature and the residents who live in these villages.
At the Forum’s meeting on the 10th of February attended by Councillor Herbert, members discussed a number a sites in the the East Boldon Forum Area which had previously been considered for development. Concern was expressed that if the current plan was rejected, these sites could again come forward under a new plan.
Links to additional information
South Tyneside Council Meeting 27 February 2025
Article in Shields Gazette 18 February 2025
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