Local Plan Publication Draft Guidance

How is this consultation different?

During previous consultation, we asked for views on the options and proposals being considered for the Local Plan.

The Publication Draft now sets out the Council’s proposed planning policies and site allocations. At this stage, we are asking whether the plan:

• has been prepared in accordance with the relevant requirements;
• is supported by appropriate evidence;
• provides an appropriate strategy for North Tyneside;
• can be delivered over the plan period; and
• is consistent with national planning policy.

You do not need to be a planning expert or use technical language to take part. You should explain clearly which part of the plan you are commenting on, why you support or disagree with it and any change you think is needed.

What can I comment on?

You can comment on any part of the Publication Draft Local Plan, including:

• the overall approach to future development;
• proposed planning policies;
• proposed housing or employment sites;
• infrastructure, transport and local services;
• affordable and specialist housing;
• the Green Belt;
• the environment, biodiversity and climate change;
• town centres, employment and the local economy; and
• the evidence used to prepare the plan.

You can support a policy or proposal as well as raise concerns about it.

What does “sound” mean?

An independent Planning Inspector will consider whether the Local Plan is sound. In simple terms, this means considering whether the plan:

Meets identified needs

The plan should provide a strategy that seeks to meet the Borough’s needs, including the need for new homes and employment land.

Is supported by evidence

The plan’s approach should be based on suitable evidence and should take account of reasonable alternatives.

Can be delivered

The policies, development sites and supporting infrastructure should be realistic and capable of being delivered during the plan period.

Is consistent with national policy

The plan should enable sustainable development in accordance with national planning policy.

These reflect the formal tests of whether a plan is positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national policy.

What should I include in my comments?

To help the Planning Inspector understand your comments, please tell us:

1. Which policy, paragraph, map or development site you are commenting on.
2. Whether you support it or think it should be changed.
3. Why you hold that view.
4. What change you think should be made, if applicable.
5. What evidence supports your comments, if you have any.
6. Whether you would like to take part in an examination hearing.

You should complete a separate response for each policy, proposal or site you want to comment on. This helps ensure that each representation is recorded against the relevant part of the Local Plan. The Planning Inspectorate’s approach also asks respondents to identify the specific part of the plan, explain the issue and state what change they consider necessary.

2. Consultation period

Representations may be made from:

5pm on Monday 28^th September

The deadline for receipt of representations is:

11:59pm on Thursday 12^th November

The representation period will run for at least six weeks. Representations must be received by the Council no later than the stated closing time and date. Only representations received within the published period will be treated as duly made and submitted for consideration as part of the examination.

3. Documents available

The proposed submission documents include:

• the North Tyneside Publication Draft Local Plan;
• the Publication Draft Policies Map;
• the Sustainability Appraisal Report, including its non-technical summary;
• the Habitats Regulations Assessment;
• the Regulation 18 Consultation Statement;
• this Statement of Representations Procedure; and
• relevant evidence and supporting documents.

The Sustainability Appraisal is one of the proposed submission documents defined by Regulation 17. https://www.northtyneside.gov.uk/data-protection-and-privacy/privacy-statements

4. Online access

The Publication Draft Local Plan, Policies Map, Sustainability Appraisal, supporting documents, guidance and online representation form are available through the Council’s online engagement hub:

North Tyneside Local Plan engagement hub
https://haveyoursay.northtyneside.gov.uk/hub-page/the-local-plan

The documents can be viewed and downloaded free of charge.

The online engagement hub also provides:

• Guidance on making a representation;
• Access to the online representation form;
• The interactive Policies Map;
• Information about consultation events;
• Details of how to register for the consultation webinar; and
• Contact details for assistance and alternative formats.

5. Inspection locations

Printed copies of the Publication Draft Local Plan and key proposed submission documents are available for public inspection at the locations listed below during their normal public opening hours.

Council offices

North Tyneside Council, Quadrant
The Silverlink North
Cobalt Business Park
North Tyneside
NE27 0BY

Dudley Community Hub and Library
John Willie Sams Centre
Market Street
Dudley
NE23 7HS

Killingworth Community Hub and Library
White Swan Centre
Citadel East
Killingworth
NE12 6SS

Longbenton Community Hub and Library
Oxford Centre
West Farm Avenue
Longbenton
NE12 8LT

North Shields Community Hub and Library
Northumberland Square
North Shields
NE30 1QU

Wallsend Community Hub and Library
16 The Forum
Wallsend
NE28 8JR

Whitley Bay Community Hub and Library
York Road
Whitley Bay
NE26 1AB

The Council identifies the principal office and other appropriate inspection locations, alongside online publication, to make the proposed submission documents available under Regulations 19 and 35.

Opening days and times may vary, particularly on public holidays. Visitors are advised to check the relevant location’s opening hours before travelling. Information about community hub and library services is available on the Council’s website. North Tyneside Council identifies community hubs as locations that provide library, information and Council-access services.

Electronic access to the complete document set is available online. Anyone who is unable to access the documents online should contact the Planning Policy team to discuss access to printed documents, alternative formats or other assistance.

6. How to make a representation

Representations may be made electronically or in writing.

Online

Complete the online representation form through the Local Plan engagement hub:

https://haveyoursay.northtyneside.gov.uk/hub-page/the-local-plan

By email

Email completed representation forms or written representations to:

planning.policy@northtyneside.gov.uk

By post

Send completed representation forms or written representations to:

Planning Policy Team
North Tyneside Council
Quadrant
The Silverlink North
Cobalt Business Park
North Tyneside
NE27 0BY

Representations cannot be treated as duly made unless they are received by the Council before the consultation deadline.

7. Information to include

Representations should clearly identify:

• the respondent’s name and contact details;
• any organisation or person represented;
• the policy, paragraph, site, map designation or other part of the Plan being addressed;
• whether the representation supports or objects to that part of the Plan;
• whether the representation concerns legal compliance, national planning policy, evidence, delivery or another relevant matter;
• the reasons for the representation; and
• any change considered necessary to make the Plan legally compliant or sound.

Respondents should submit a separate representation for each policy, site, paragraph or other matter they wish to raise. This will help the Council and the appointed Planning Inspector identify and consider each matter clearly.

The Planning Inspectorate provides a model representation form and guidance for representations made at the Regulation 19 publication stage. The guidance explains that representations may be submitted in writing or electronically and that the deadline and submission arrangements should be made clear.

8. Focus of representations

This is a formal Regulation 19 consultation on the version of the Local Plan that the Council intends to submit for independent examination.

Representations should focus on whether the Local Plan:

• has been prepared in accordance with the relevant legal and procedural requirements;
• complies with the duty to cooperate and other relevant statutory duties;
• is supported by appropriate evidence and information;
• is consistent with national planning policy;
• provides an appropriate strategy for North Tyneside;
• is effective and capable of being successfully delivered; and
• is positively prepared and justified.

Representations may suggest changes that the respondent considers necessary to address an identified issue.

9. Requests for future notification

A person making a representation may request to be notified of any of the following:

1. the submission of the North Tyneside Local Plan for independent examination;
2. the publication of the recommendations of the person appointed to carry out the examination; and
3. the adoption of the North Tyneside Local Plan.

Any such request should be made as part of the representation and should include the email or postal address to which the notification should be sent.

These notification options form part of the required content of the Statement of Representations Procedure.

Consultation information and support

10. Online webinar

An online webinar will be held at:

6pm on Wednesday 14 October 2026

The webinar will explain:

• the role of the Publication Draft Local Plan;
• the purpose of the Regulation 19 consultation;
• how to view the Plan and Policies Map;
• how to make a representation; and
• what happens after the consultation closes.

Advance registration is required. Registration details are available through the online Local Plan engagement hub:

https://haveyoursay.northtyneside.gov.uk/hub-page/the-local-plan

11. In-person Local Plan information drop-ins

The Council will hold a programme of in-person drop-in events during the consultation.

These are informal drop-in sessions and there will be no formal presentation. Visitors may arrive at any point during the advertised time. Planning officers will be available throughout each session to answer questions, explain the proposals, help visitors find relevant parts of the Plan and explain how to make a representation.

To help manage attendance and give visitors adequate time with officers, visitors are encouraged to attend throughout the available event window rather than all arriving at the beginning.

Attendance at a drop-in event is not required in order to make a representation.

Comments made verbally to an officer at a drop-in event will not automatically constitute a formal representation. Representations must be submitted through one of the methods described in section 6 and received by the deadline.

12. Help and alternative formats

For questions about the Local Plan, assistance with making a representation, or information in another language or format, contact the Planning Policy team:

Email: planning.policy@northtyneside.gov.uk
Telephone: 0191 643 2310
Post: Planning Policy Team, North Tyneside Council, Quadrant, The Silverlink North, Cobalt Business Park, North Tyneside, NE27 0BY

Paper copies of the representation form and guidance are available on request.

13. Data protection and publication of representations

The Council will use personal information to administer the Local Plan consultation and examination.

Representations and relevant respondent information may be passed to the Planning Inspectorate and published as part of the examination process. Personal contact details will be handled in accordance with the Council’s data-protection arrangements.

Further information is available from the Council’s data protection and privacy webpages. https://www.northtyneside.gov.uk/data-protection-and-privacy/privacy-statements