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The North Tyneside Design Code was adopted on 22 June 2026 and sets out the design standards that will guide future development across the borough. The Design Code was shaped by feedback from residents, community groups, developers, planning professionals and statutory organisations through two stages of consultation between 2024 and 2026.
During the first stage of consultation, 433 responses were received through surveys, interactive mapping and ideas boards. Residents highlighted the importance of protecting local character, creating safer and more walkable streets, providing more trees and green spaces, supporting biodiversity, improving accessibility, and ensuring new developments are distinctive rather than looking the same as developments elsewhere in the country.
A second consultation on the draft Design Code took place in 2026. Feedback from residents and organisations led to a number of changes to the final document, including:
Stronger references to local character, heritage and conservation areas.
Improved guidance on accessible and inclusive design.
Clearer expectations around walking, wheeling and connectivity.
Enhanced guidance on sustainable drainage, green infrastructure and biodiversity.
New guidance relating to solar panels and renewable energy technologies.
A clearer structure and separate sections for different development types to make the document easier to use.
The final Design Code reflects the priorities raised through consultation, helping to ensure that future development across North Tyneside is well designed, responds to local character, supports sustainability and biodiversity, and creates places that are attractive, accessible and easy to navigate.
New developments should reflect North Tyneside's character and heritage.
Strengthened references to heritage assets, conservation areas and local character throughout the Design Code.
Streets should be safer and easier for people walking, wheeling and cycling.
Added clearer guidance on inclusive movement, accessibility and walkable neighbourhoods.
Green spaces, trees and biodiversity are important.
Enhanced guidance on sustainable drainage, landscaping, hedgehog gaps and biodiversity features.
The document was long and difficult to navigate.
Reorganised the Design Code into separate sections and added checklists to improve usability.
Sustainability should be given greater emphasis.
Added guidance on solar panels and strengthened environmental and sustainability measures.
Design Code Supplementary Planning Document
We are seeking views on the draft North Tyneside Design Code Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). The Design Code is intended to sit alongside and add detail to both the current adopted Local Plan and the future Local Plan. Once adopted, it will replace the existing Design Quality SPD.
This borough-wide Design Code includes guidance and requirements for seven different development types. Its purpose is to ensure new development:
achieves a high standard of design,
reflects local character, and
supports well‑integrated, sustainable communities for current and future residents.
The full Design Code is available on the Design Code website, where you can filter content to view the Codes relevant to your type of development. A PDF version is also available.
Who we are consulting
We welcome comments from residents, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders on the draft Design Code SPD.
How to take part in the consultation
The consultation closed on Wednesday 22 April 2026.
What happens next
All consultation feedback will be considered in preparing the final version of the Supplementary Planning Document. Adoption of the Design Code SPD is expected in June 2026.
You Said, We Did Update: 9 September 2026
The North Tyneside Design Code was adopted on 22 June 2026 and sets out the design standards that will guide future development across the borough. The Design Code was shaped by feedback from residents, community groups, developers, planning professionals and statutory organisations through two stages of consultation between 2024 and 2026.
During the first stage of consultation, 433 responses were received through surveys, interactive mapping and ideas boards. Residents highlighted the importance of protecting local character, creating safer and more walkable streets, providing more trees and green spaces, supporting biodiversity, improving accessibility, and ensuring new developments are distinctive rather than looking the same as developments elsewhere in the country.
A second consultation on the draft Design Code took place in 2026. Feedback from residents and organisations led to a number of changes to the final document, including:
Stronger references to local character, heritage and conservation areas.
Improved guidance on accessible and inclusive design.
Clearer expectations around walking, wheeling and connectivity.
Enhanced guidance on sustainable drainage, green infrastructure and biodiversity.
New guidance relating to solar panels and renewable energy technologies.
A clearer structure and separate sections for different development types to make the document easier to use.
The final Design Code reflects the priorities raised through consultation, helping to ensure that future development across North Tyneside is well designed, responds to local character, supports sustainability and biodiversity, and creates places that are attractive, accessible and easy to navigate.
New developments should reflect North Tyneside's character and heritage.
Strengthened references to heritage assets, conservation areas and local character throughout the Design Code.
Streets should be safer and easier for people walking, wheeling and cycling.
Added clearer guidance on inclusive movement, accessibility and walkable neighbourhoods.
Green spaces, trees and biodiversity are important.
Enhanced guidance on sustainable drainage, landscaping, hedgehog gaps and biodiversity features.
The document was long and difficult to navigate.
Reorganised the Design Code into separate sections and added checklists to improve usability.
Sustainability should be given greater emphasis.
Added guidance on solar panels and strengthened environmental and sustainability measures.
Design Code Supplementary Planning Document
We are seeking views on the draft North Tyneside Design Code Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). The Design Code is intended to sit alongside and add detail to both the current adopted Local Plan and the future Local Plan. Once adopted, it will replace the existing Design Quality SPD.
This borough-wide Design Code includes guidance and requirements for seven different development types. Its purpose is to ensure new development:
achieves a high standard of design,
reflects local character, and
supports well‑integrated, sustainable communities for current and future residents.
The full Design Code is available on the Design Code website, where you can filter content to view the Codes relevant to your type of development. A PDF version is also available.
Who we are consulting
We welcome comments from residents, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders on the draft Design Code SPD.
How to take part in the consultation
The consultation closed on Wednesday 22 April 2026.
What happens next
All consultation feedback will be considered in preparing the final version of the Supplementary Planning Document. Adoption of the Design Code SPD is expected in June 2026.
The North Tyneside Draft Design Code includes seven key sections. You can provide comments on each part of the Draft Code using the following questionnaire.
When viewing this questionnaire online you can click on each link to return to the content of the Draft Design Code.
All responses will be dealt with in accordance with our privacy statement which can be found here
If you have any questions about this survey or need us to do anything differently to help you take part, including providing this information in another language or format, please contact planning.policy@northtyneside.gov.uk or call 0191 643 2310.
Contributions to this consultation are closed for evaluation and review. The project team will report back on key outcomes.
Final report
Design Code Consultation is currently at this stage
The final outcomes of the consultation are documented here. This may include a summary of all contributions collected as well as recommendations for future action.
Consultation Draft (14.2 MB) (pdf)
