Newcastle's Core Strategy and Urban Core Consultation - interim update

The following documents are available to view in libraries and customer service centres as listed below, at Newcastle Civic Centres and at Newcastle Customer Service Centres:

· Schedule of Proposed Modifications to the Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan (November 2014), PDF, 4.49MB

· Proposed Modifications to the Policies Maps (November 2014), PDF, 11.6MB

· 'Tracked change' version of Planning for the Future Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan Proposed Submission Document September 2013, PDF, 26.80MB

· Statement of Representation Procedure (PDF, 25KB)

· Inspector Interim Report, PDF, 31KB

· Representation Form and Guidance Note (Word, 53KB)

· Gateshead and Newcastle Response to National Planning Policy for Waste (PDF, 92KB)

· National Planning Policy for Waste (PDF, 168KB)

· Waste Planning Practice Guidance

Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan for Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne 2010 ‐ 2030

Introduction
In February 2014, following extensive consultation, Gateshead Council and Newcastle City Council jointly submitted the Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan to the Secretary of State for independent examination.
In early June, inspector Martin Pike BA MA MRTPI began the process of examination to determine whether the plan was sound or not. The first element of this was the public hearings, which took place over four weeks during June, July and October.

Interim Inspector's Report
Mr Pike submitted his preliminary findings on the soundness of the Plan to both local authorities on November 7th 2014. The main findings are as follows:
• The Plan is legally compliant and has been prepared in accordance with the Duty to Cooperate
• The Spatial Strategy including the number of homes, jobs, retail development and employment land is justified.
• The proposal to build homes at Callerton, Newbiggin Hall, Kingston Park/Kenton Bank Foot, Newcastle Great Park, Dinnington, Throckley, Hazlerigg and Wideopen and alter the Green Belt boundary is broadly supported subject to policy amendments.
• The approach to transport is sound; however the Inspector does not consider the Link Road connection to and A696 appropriate and should be removed.
• The approach to health, climate change, built and natural environment, flooding Green Belt, minerals and waste is sound.
• The approach to the Urban Core is sound.

Consultation on the Modifications
Mr Pike has concluded that the plan is broadly sound which is a major step forward given that nationally a number of submitted plan documents have been found unsound. He has however recommended that some modifications be made, which are subject to further sustainability appraisal and further consultation with interested parties.
The Councils have consulted extensively on the Plan and have been strongly committed to involving as many people as possible in the process to ensure that stakeholders and the community had an opportunity to have their say. However unlike previous consultation periods, this statutory consultation on the proposed modifications will be organised by the Programme Officer on behalf of the Planning Inspector.
The proposed modifications to the CSCUP will be subject to consultation for 7 weeks from 17 November 2014 to midnight 4 January 2015 and representations will be considered by the Planning Inspector. Representations are sought solely on the proposed modifications as the majority of the Plan is unchanged and has already been subject to consultation and discussed at the examination hearings.