Big Community Conversation question and answers - Regeneration

NTSP Big Community Conversation Questions and Answers

Please see a list of the questions you can find below. Please scroll down to find the answers to each question.

1. Why is the council selling green spaces and play areas for housing, and what is being done to protect wildlife corridors?

2. How does the council ensure new housing is supported by local infrastructure such as schools, GPs, dentists, and shops?

3. How does North Tyneside compare with other areas in terms of public green space, and are there plans to improve this?

4. Why is a high standard of design not always enforced in residential areas, and how can housing be made more attractive?

5. Are electric vehicle charging points included in new homes, and can restrictions on driveways be relaxed for installation?

6. How are national housing targets balanced with local needs, and why can building plans sometimes be changed without public consultation?

7. What is being done to improve nurseries, parks, adventure playgrounds, and local facilities in areas like Killingworth, Howden, and Shiremoor?

8. Will investment reach town centres such as Whitley Bay and North Shields to support small businesses and rejuvenate high streets?

9. Can empty schools or derelict buildings be used for affordable housing or public spaces?

10. How is the council addressing potholes, uneven pavements, and footpath maintenance, particularly for disabled and elderly residents?

11. How are traffic congestion, roadworks, and junction management being handled, especially during Tyne Tunnel closures?

12. How will speeding and pedestrian safety be controlled, including new crossings in busy areas?

13. Why is so much money spent on cycle lanes, and how does the council ensure roads are safe for all users, including pedestrians and motorists?

14. Will the council monitor cycle track usage and ensure active travel

15. What is being done to resolve parking issues caused by new developments or restricted streets, and can restrictions be relaxed in certain cases?

16. How does the council address antisocial parking that creates safety hazards?

17. How can public transport be improved to encourage use and reduce short car journeys, including metro and bus services in areas like Backworth?

18. When will electric vehicles become widely available, and why is the free travel pass not offered from age 60?

19. Can digital infrastructure, like bus station screens, be improved to provide real-time information and promote local events while supporting local businesses?

1. Why is the council selling green spaces and play areas for housing, and what is being done to protect wildlife corridors?

The only sale of green space since 2023 has been land at Centurian Park and Church Bank Cemetery Lodge. No play areas have been sold.

The Local Plan (adopted in 2017) includes a range of policies which, among other matters seeks to ensure the protection of important areas of green space including informal green space as well as sports pitches and play sites. Where development is proposed on any designated open space the applicant has to demonstrate that the open space no longer has value to the community in terms of access or function and that its loss would not lead to a shortfall in provision. Where these circumstances are met alternative provision of better or equivalent quantity and quality is required.

In addition to publicising any planning applications which affect open space, there is an additional process followed where the Council is intending to dispose of open space in its ownership. In accordance with S123 of the Local Government Act (1972) the potential loss of open space is advertised giving residents a further opportunity to make representations on any proposed loss. Representations are considered by Cabinet.

To support the movement of wildlife across the Borough a number of wildlife corridors are designated to provide a network of space. These are important areas and local planning policies seek to protect and enhance these. Any new development proposals must demonstrate that they have taken account of the wildlife corridors and taken steps to retain and enhance them as part of development. Since 2024 there is also a national mandatory requirement to require most developments to deliver biodiversity improvements through a 10% biodiversity net gain.

2. How does the council ensure new housing is supported by local infrastructure such as schools, GPs, dentists, and shops?

At its heart, national planning policy requires the planning system to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of homes, commercial development and supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner. Local plans should align planned growth and infrastructure, including physical and community infrastructure.

The current local plan (adopted 2017) provides the blueprint for how the Borough should grow and it recognises that without the proper infrastructure in place to support growth, there could be adverse impacts on our communities and environment. As such, Local Plan policies seek to ensure that new development is supported by an appropriate level of new infrastructure. A Supplementary Planning Document published in 2018 sets out more detail on the range of infrastructure which includes public transport, affordable housing, education and health provision, greenspace, sports and play facilities and employment and training opportunities.

In determining planning applications national policy requires LPAs to consider whether otherwise unacceptable development could be made acceptable through the use of conditions or planning obligations. Planning obligations are a means to secure mitigation measures and can be works or a financial contribution. Planning obligations are regularly used to secure financial contributions, where a developer enters into a legally binding agreement to pay an agreed sum of money which is directed to the delivery of infrastructure improvements. The use of planning obligations is controlled by legislation, and they must be necessary to make the development acceptable in planning terms and related to it in scale and kind. On large development sites, such as the strategic housing allocations at Killingworth Moor and Murton local policy requires the onsite provision of local facilities such as small retail provision and potentially space for health services. The development at Station Road, Wallsend includes local shopping provision and planning obligation funding was used to provide enhanced health services in Wallsend.

The Council also adopted a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in 2018. This imposes a financial levy on many new forms of development which is used to deliver borough wide infrastructure improvements. CIL can be directed, among other things, to the improvement of primary and secondary education provision, health facilities, sustainable transport connections and the enhancement of walking, wheeling and cycling routes associated with the development of Killingworth Moor and Murton.

3. How does North Tyneside compare with other areas in terms of public green space, and are there plans to improve this?

North Tyneside performs well in comparison to its peers across the North East. Review of available data such as the quality and management of green spaces, and the overall proportion of the Borough that can be defined as green place shows that North Tyneside performs as well as or better than many of its neighbours in the region.

However, when looking at comparisons it is important to note that each area is unique and offers different types of green and open spaces tied to the area’s history and character. Northumberland and Durham are predominantly rural, have large land areas and by extension relatively large amounts of open space. Meanwhile, Newcastle as a largely urban area has a number of formal parks but also benefits from historic and unique features like the Town Moor and Jesmond Dene.

North Tyneside also has an attractive and valuable mix of formal and historic urban parks like Northumberland Park and Richardson Dees, informal and natural green spaces and the attractive coastline and extensive beaches. The area has also benefited greatly over the last 40 to 50 years from the efforts to reclaim former industrial and colliery sites like Weetslade and the Rising Sun creating new large areas of green space of importance for wildlife and recreation.

In terms of comparison, the Green Flag award scheme sets the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world. The following sets out the number of Green Flag award winning parks for Local Authority managed spaces in the North East:

Durham council: 2
Gateshead Council: 4
Newcastle City Council: 4
North Tyneside Council: 6
Northumberland County Council: 14
South Tyneside Council: 6
Sunderland City Council: 5

Whilst the extent of North Tyneside is substantially smaller than many of the Authorities listed above, the borough has a comparable number of parks and green spaces managed to the high Green Flag award level.

A further analysis has been undertaken of the amount of green space available within North Tyneside in comparison to other Local Authorities. To ensure data used is suitable for comparison this analysis has been based upon Ordnance Survey Greenspace open data. The following key data can be assessed:

Total green space area (Hectares)

All North East Authorities have 12,886

Tyne and Wear Authorities have 5,858

North Tyneside has 986

Total administrative area (Ha)

All North East Authorities have 786,092

Tyne and Wear Authorities have 5,858

North Tyneside has 8,480

Percentage of land area that is Green Space

All North East Authorities have 1.6%

Tyne and Wear Authorities have 10.6%

North Tyneside has 11.6%

The Authority’s own latest analysis of the quality and value of open and green spaces is included within the North Tyneside Green Space Study. This information is available on the Council’s website here: Greenbelt open space and recreation | North Tyneside Council

The Authority continually invests in its green spaces through its programme of maintenance and enhancement. Through the planning process the Authority secured developer contributions where necessary to support the expansion or enhancement of green spaces. In recent years this has included measures to expand the Rising Sub Country Park, with a substantial new area of accessible green space created. Other examples of such investment include use of developer contributions to support the refurbishment of the Whitley Park Playsite.

The Authority remains committed to managing is green spaces for the benefit of the community, ensuring important and attractive spaces are protected and securing new investment where necessary to respond to the impacts of the borough’s continued growth.

4. Why is a high standard of design not always enforced in residential areas, and how can housing be made more attractive?

The Authority expects all development proposals to be high quality design. Some development, for example many extensions, alterations and conversions of buildings benefit from permitted development rights. For such development, the Local Planning Authority has no control over the design quality of the work undertaken.

Within the planning process, the Local Planning Authority considers how a development looks, how it fits into the surrounding area and how it meets the needs of users. This means ensuring developments provide ease of movement, feel safe and secure and provide access to important community facilities.

Planning applications must be designed in accordance with our Local Plan which includes specific policies about design. Where there are concerns about the design quality of a planning application, the Authority will work with applicants to improve the design. Where concerns are not adequately addressed, we can refuse planning permission.

To help deliver more attractive housing, the Authority has detailed guidance for applicants, set out in the “Design Quality Supplementary Planning Document”. This is a material consideration within the planning process. Work is also underway in preparation of refreshed design guidance and a Design Code for the Borough. This will update our existing guidance and set out clear expectations for how development should be designed and help deliver higher quality new housing.

5. Are electric vehicle charging points included in new homes, and can restrictions on driveways be relaxed for installation?

Since 2022, the provision of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure (charge points and cable routes) in new residential buildings, new non-residential buildings with more than 10 parking spaces, and major residential or non-residential renovations with over 10 parking spaces, has been mandated via Building Regulations.

The Council published a reviewed Transport and Highways Supplementary Planning Document in 2022. This includes guidance on EV charging infrastructure, building on local plan policy DM4.7 which requires the provision of charging points on appropriate developments.

Notwithstanding the Building Regulations requirements, a planning condition is now also imposed on permissions for new developments to ensure that provision is made for electric vehicle charging points for each phase of development.

In terms of existing properties, there are permitted development rights for an EV charging point to be installed where there is in-curtilage parking space. It is recognised that many properties do not benefit from off street parking provision.

If a resident of an existing household applies to construct a hard-standing to accommodate any vehicle, then they must comply with the hard-standing requirements as set out in the Council’s Vehicle Access Crossing procedures – for details please see the Council’s website.

6. How are national housing targets balanced with local needs, and why can building plans sometimes be changed without public consultation?

National and local housing needs

The government has established a target to achieve delivery of 1.5 million homes across this parliament, equivalent to 300,000 per year. In 2024 monitoring indicates 153,00 new dwellings have been completed in England. To achieve this each Local Authority has been given a housing need figure which will collectively deliver the national target.

The local housing need figure is calculated using the government’s standard methodology. The calculation provides an annual housing need figure based on 0.8% of an areas total housing stock. A further uplift, informed by an areas housing affordability ratio, based upon median work place income and median house prices is then applied. This element can change with shifts in income and house prices. Further information about this calculation is available here:

Housing and economic needs assessment - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/housing-and-economic-development-needs-assessments)
Local Housing Need outcome, MHCLG 2024: lhn-outcome-of-the-new-method.ods

As of December 2024, the figure for North Tyneside is 989 homes per year. This is expected to be reviewed annually.

Changing building plans

Legislation makes provision for small, non-material changes to be made to an approved development after planning permission has been issued. There is also scope for material changes to be made but such amendments would be subject to public consultation.

Although not a statutory requirement, where plans are amended during the application consideration stage, a re-consultation exercise is usually carried out to provide local residents and interest groups with a further opportunity to review proposals and make representations.

Non-material amendments are limited to matters including:

Minor changes to what was described in the planning permission.
Changes which do not breach conditions of planning permission.
Changes which do not increase the height / size of the proposals.

7. What is being done to improve nurseries, parks, adventure playgrounds, and local facilities in areas like Killingworth, Howden, and Shiremoor?

Please see below a summary of recent and planned improvements to play sites in the areas mentioned:

Howdon:

General repairs and maintenance only.

No significant improvements are currently planned.

Killingworth:

Significant investment is planned for Killingworth Lake, which will include new play equipment suitable for all age groups.

As the scope of works extends beyond just play site provision, so I would assume colleagues in Regeneration will have provided some further detail on this.

Shiremoor:

Significant improvement works to the under-5s play area was completed earlier this year at Shiremoor Adventure Playground. New play installations across the wider site were also delivered as part of the first phase of works. A second phase of improvements, aimed at enhancing the overall play offer, is scheduled within the next 12 months.

North-West:

We are currently consulting on plans to redevelop Killingworth Lakeside Park, responding to feedback from residents last year. The new park will include improved play facilities, a new cafe and toilets and better seating layouts as well as new walking and cycling routes, and a nature trail. Our play team are currently exploring opportunities to reuse some of the existing equipment at Killingworth Lakeside Park to further improve local parks in the wider North West Area. In addition to Killingworth Lakeside Park, works to improve Fryers Millenium Green in Burradon are currently underway, following agreement of a scheme with residents earlier in the year to improve existing facilities and create a community orchard. We are also exploring opportunities to improve Keegan Park in Killingworth, with engagement with residents expected to be undertaken in Autumn/Winter 2025/26.
8. Will investment reach town centres such as Whitley Bay and North Shields to support small businesses and rejuvenate high streets?

We continue to deliver town centre improvements in North Shields as part of our Ambition for North Shields. Following upgrades to Howard Street and Northumberland Square current focus is on improvements to Bedford Street and the wider shopping areas to make the areas more attractive and inviting to visitors. Businesses are supported through the Business Factory which offers advice and guidance to businesses across the Borough. Activity includes a pop-up shop where businesses can test their products in a retail environment and a shop front improvement scheme specific to retail areas in North Shields to support the look and feel of the place. In addition, there is a dedicated business liaison officer working alongside the business community to support footfall, help businesses thrive and to bring new businesses to the town centre.

In addition, significant investment has gone into establishing a Cultural and Creative Zone to help develop the towns identity and bring a new wave of activity into the town. This also includes support for Creative businesses through mentorship programmes, access to tools and equipment and the development of work and collaborative space. The new Embankment Walkway also serves to support footfall from the town to the fish quay and vice versa.

In Whitley Bay we continue to work with businesses to encourage more visitors and support new and existing businesses in the town.
9. Can empty schools or derelict buildings be used for affordable housing or public spaces?

The school land and building are owned by North Tyneside Learning Trust, not North Tyneside Council. There is a restrictive covenant in place that the land and buildings can only be used for educational purposes. If a school closes and the land is to be used for something other than education in the 10 years after closure, the Secretary of State for Education must give their consent. Any applications for use of the land would be subject to Planning consultation to the Council in line with planning requirements.

In the case of schools, there are often legal covenants in place that require the buildings to be used for educational purposes, an example of this is Monkseaton High School. This school and the land upon which it is sited are owned by North Tyneside Learning Trust, not North Tyneside Council. There is a restrictive covenant in place that the land and buildings can only be used for educational purposes. If a school closes and the land is to be used for something other than education in the 10 years after closure, the Secretary of State for Education must give their consent. Any applications for use of the land would be subject to Planning consultation to the Council in line with planning requirements.

Subject to planning requirements, empty and derelict properties can be refurbished for affordable homes. The Council has a good track record bringing back derelict properties into use as affordable housing. Recently the Council has purchased several empty and derelict properties including former office buildings and a social club in Wallsend that have been demolished to bring back as affordable council homes. The Council has purchased and demolished a former Church in Benton that was becoming derelict and a source of anti-social behaviour. Planning for this site has now been granted and will 36 new Council homes delivered.

We also provide support to owners of properties that have fell into disrepair and where possible work with them to bring the homes back into use.
10. How is the council addressing potholes, uneven pavements, and footpath maintenance, particularly for disabled and elderly residents?

When the council receives reports of potholes or other damage, we inspect and arrange for these defects to be repaired as appropriate. In addition, our roads and footways are inspected on at least a six-monthly basis. The information gathered on these inspections, alongside condition surveys and requests from ward Members and residents, are used to develop our annual resurfacing and footway programme. The council’s annual programme includes dropped kerb works, which help to make walking and wheeling routes easier to access for all.
11. How are traffic congestion, roadworks, and junction management being handled, especially during Tyne Tunnel closures?

The council has a duty under the Traffic Management Act 2004 to manage the movement of traffic (including walking, wheeling and cycling) effectively. As part of this, we manage all ‘third party’ activities on the highway (e.g. utility works) using a permit scheme to manage these activities. We monitor congestion, working with partners such as the regional traffic control team, and undertake improvement schemes where appropriate.

Regarding the recent Tyne Tunnels works, there was early engagement with the Tunnels operator to understand the implications of the proposed partial closures, and a communications programme to make residents and visitors aware of the partial closures and encourage them to use alternative routes if convenient.
12. How will speeding and pedestrian safety be controlled, including new crossings in busy areas?

The council’s work on travel safety considers all highway users, including the most vulnerable road users, people walking, wheeling, and cycling. Thousands of people travel safely on North Tyneside’s transport network every day and we are committed to ensure that the network is as safe as possible.

We have recently consulted on a proposed updated Travel Safety Strategy for the borough. This includes a proposed Speeding Prevention Plan which sets out how the council seeks to work with partners to prevent speeding on the borough’s highway network. The council has recently entered into a new regional road safety partnership which includes Northumbria Police.

We install new crossings for people walking, wheeling and cycling where this is appropriate following surveys and assessments.
13. Why is so much money spent on cycle lanes, and how does the council ensure roads are safe for all users, including pedestrians and motorists?

The council has a duty under the Traffic Management Act 2004 to manage the movement of traffic (including walking, wheeling and cycling) effectively, as part of which we manage the network seeking to make it as safe as possible for all road users. The majority of the council’s highways funding comes from central government, including for highway maintenance and integrated transport. The council has also successfully bid for external funding e.g. to deliver the Sea Front Sustainable Route, which has helped to make it easier to explore the sea front for people walking, wheeling and cycling. Often these bid opportunities are associated with specific initiatives such as active travel and such funding cannot used for other initiatives (e.g. highway maintenance).

The North Tyneside Cycling Strategy sets out how the council will support everyday cycling in the borough and sets out our network including strategic cycling routes.

The council has an existing network of automatic cycling counters at various locations in the borough. In addition, as part of new schemes for cycling, walking and wheeling, we generally include a monitoring and evaluation plan which would consider baseline usage levels and arrangements to monitor future growth.
15. What is being done to resolve parking issues caused by new developments or restricted streets, and can restrictions be relaxed in certain cases?

National and local planning policies and guidance require the impact of any new development on traffic and parking to be considered. The Council published a reviewed Transport and Highways Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) in 2022. This includes parking standards for a range of developments. Developers are required to submit a range of information to evidence the impact of development on the road network and parking provision. National planning policy has placed an increasing emphasis on the delivery of sustainable travel options to reduce reliance on the car and encourage the use of public transport walking, wheeling and cycling. A travel plan is required to demonstrate how take up of such measures will be encouraged and monitored.

The adopted SPD does set out are the expected levels of parking provision, however in areas with good accessibility, appropriate parking management and robust Travel Plan measures in place, a reduction in these requirements may be considered. Developers will need to demonstrate that this will not have a detrimental impact on highway safety or exacerbate existing parking problems.

After a scheme has been implemented, the impact of any displaced parking is monitored and further measures brought forward if required. Further details can be found in the North Tyneside Parking Strategy, which is available on the council’s website.
16. How does the council address antisocial parking that creates safety hazards?

The North Tyneside Parking Strategy, which is available on the council’s website, sets out our approach to managing parking in the borough, which includes assessing requests for additional parking restrictions. The council’s parking enforcement team can undertake parking enforcement activity where parking restrictions are in place, e.g. double yellow lines, school ‘keep clear’ markings and loading restrictions. In the absence of parking restrictions, the enforcement of unsafe or anti-social parking would be the responsibility of Northumbria Police.
17. How can public transport be improved to encourage use and reduce short car journeys, including metro and bus services in areas like Backworth?

Through the regional Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), partners such as local councils and the bus and Metro operators work together to support public transport use. For example, this has delivered good value tickets for a full day’s travel on bus and Metro in Tyne and Wear or throughout the North East, and special rate single and day tickets for people aged 21 or under.

A new rail station is under construction at Northumberland Park, next to the existing Metro station, as part of the Northumberland Line major project. This will provide faster links to and from Newcastle Central Station and South-East Northumberland and increase the choice of public transport options for residents in the area around the station, including Backworth.

The new Metro fleet, currently being rolled out, provides an improved journey experience and better accessibility and will support service reliability for Metro passengers.

The North East Combined Authority is carrying out an assessment of potential ways to reform how bus services in the region are delivered to encourage bus use.

As part of the design of major new developments, the council seeks to ensure that they include community facilities and have good accessibility for public transport. Working with Nexus, developer contributions to improve bus services may be secured.

The council also bids for external funding, where appropriate, to improve routes for everyday cycling, walking and wheeling and make these an attractive alternative to short car journeys.
18. When will electric vehicles become widely available, and why is the free travel pass not offered from age 60?

Electric vehicles are widely available in the new car and van market and increasingly in the second-hand market.

Many EV charge points are provided by private sector, e.g. at supermarkets and filling stations. The council also has a supporting role in helping to provide more EV charge points at local destinations such as car parks – details are available on the council’s website.

The concessionary travel pass for older people in Tyne and Wear is delivered within a framework set by central government and the minimum age requirement reflects this. Details are available on the Nexus website.
19. Can digital infrastructure, like bus station screens, be improved to provide real-time information and promote local events while supporting local businesses?

The bus shelters that the Council manages in the Borough, which is around one third, are currently being redeveloped and some will include new digital screens which can be used by local businesses for advertisements and living rooms to help us achieve our climate ambitions. Any advertisements will be in line with our Council Advertising Policy that includes discount for North Tyneside Businesses, and an allocation of free space for council events and campaigns.

"We are working with partners, including Nexus and transport providers, to look at assets we have that can show real time travel information. It has always been the Council's ambition to include this on the screen at the new Transport Hub alongside event information and advertising.