South Tyneside Council – Draft Local Plan 2024

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The Draft Local Plan sets out the Council’s view of the borough from 2023-2040 and the consultation is run in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. 

The Regulation 19 Draft Local Plan 2024 only includes one development site in the Forum area. However:

• The plan makes no mention of the Cleadon Lane site which was granted provisional approval in 2023 for 202 homes or the Mayflower Glass site which has permission for 9 homes. Added to the 263 homes proposed on North Farm, the total increase in the Forum area is 474 homes, a 26% increase in the size of the village without any real consideration of the impact on infrastructure or services.
• The housing needs assessment carried out as part of the approved Neighbourhood Plan was for 146 properties to 2031.
• There are no firm plans to improve the infrastructure in the area including traffic flows, school places and access to medical facilities.
• Paragraph 4.33 of the Draft Plan states “The Council’s Spatial Strategy allocates 6 Urban and Village Sustainable Growth Areas at Whitburn Village, Cleadon and East Boldon. These Urban and Village Sustainable Growth Areas will be able to deliver approximately 1108 new homes during the plan period.” This is almost the size of the proposed Fellgate development where the Council has identified the need for additional infrastructure including a new primary school.
• The plan does not acknowledge the impact of a further 659 houses which will be built just outside of the forum boundary, 400 at Town End Farm (near Nissan) and 259 at West Hall Farm, Moor Lane, Cleadon.
• The plan does not include some of the recommended practices identified in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Use our findings (see below) to help you make your personal response

You can choose to send your comments using one of the following:

1. Reply via the Council Website: https://haveyoursay.southtyneside.gov.uk/spatial-planning/south-tyneside-publication-draft-local-plan-2023-2/
2. By email: local.plan@southtyneside.gov.uk  The council have provided a format that they would like email responses in, it is available on their website: https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/21048/How-to-have-your-say
3. By post: Spatial Planning, Development Services, Regeneration and Environment, South Tyneside Council, Town Hall and Civic Offices, Westoe Road, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE33 2RL.

How to fill in your response:

Representations at this stage can only be made on the legal compliance and soundness of the Local Plan. That is, has the Plan been prepared in accordance with all legal and procedural requirements, and does the Plan meet the prescribed tests of soundness.

When responding please quote the policy number or the paragraph number and state why you think the policy is not sound.

In relation to the soundness of the plan the following questions need to be asked:

• Has the Plan been positively prepared to meet the objectively assessed need for homes, jobs, services and infrastructure and deliver sustainable development?

• ls the Plan justified by a robust evidence base?

• ls the Plan effective in delivering sustainable development?
• ls the Plan consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) for sustainable development?

Here are some of the points that Forum members have raised, you may have others you wish to add.

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FORUM OBJECTIONS

CONTRADICTION OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

The development of the site is a major reversal of the East Boldon Neighbourhood Plan agreed at referendum in 2021.

LOSS OF VILLAGE IDENTITY

The Green Belt Review Site Assessment undervalues the importance of the site.

The development of the site will reduce the gap, in terms of distance, between Boldon and South Shields and the open space and separation along Boker Lane will be lost, effectively merging East and West Boldon.

INCREASED RISK OF FLOODING

There is a risk of surface water flooding for this site (it is located within Flood Zones 2 and 3) and the development of the site will have significant negative effects towards the climate change objective.

DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT

The site is within the wildlife corridor, is located within 5Om of a SSSI and 250 m of a local wildlife site and nature reserve. the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) states that a significant negative effect is expected in relation to the objective of conserving and enhancing biodiversity.

LOSS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND

The development of the site which is in agricultural use would result in the loss of Grade 3 agricultural land and the SA states that is therefore considered to have a significant negative effect in relation to the objective of protecting our soils and promoting efficient land use.

OVERLOAD ON INFRASTRUCTURE

The development of 263 houses on this site will have a major impact on the infrastructure of the village including the need for an extra 66 extra primary school places and 33 extra secondary school places (based on the standard method of calculation). The Infrastructure Delivery Plan indicates a lack of capacity in local primary schools.

EXTREME INCREASE IN TRAFFIC – ALREADY OVER CAPACITY

The Traffic Capacity Assessment shows that the site would contribute significant additional capacity through the A184/ Boker Lane junction, which is already over capacity at the evening peak. When the impact of full barrier closure at the Tilesheds level crossing is included the impact on this junction is even greater. Similar impact is forecast for the Sunderland Road/ Station Road junction.

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Please see questions / comments below (these refer to items within the Forum area):

If you have any questions about the Local Plan which you’d like help to comment on please leave us a message.