Chapter 2 - Introduction
INTRODUCTION
What is the North Tyneside Unitary Development Plan (U.D.P.)?
2.1 Planning authorities have a statutory requirement to prepare development plans covering the whole of their area.
2.2 The North Tyneside Unitary Development Plan (U.D.P.) is a new plan covering all of North Tyneside. It will:
- replace or incorporate existing Development Plans.
- provide the necessary framework for development, development control, and conservation; and be a clear and concise statement of the Council's policies and proposals for the development and other use of land to 2006.
- provide a degree of certainty and commitment to the future land use pattern and nature and direction of growth within which development decisions can be made.
- act as an incentive in bringing forward development and stimulating growth.
- ensure that proposals brought forward by public or private bodies either individually or in partnership conform to national policies, regional guidance and the adopted strategy of the plan.
- be monitored annually and reviewed every five years to ensure that the plan is up to date and relevant.
- contribute to the national strategy for sustainable development.
2.3 In its overall timespan the U.D.P. differs from shorter term strategies such as the Council's Economic Development Strategy, the Housing Investment Programme (H.I.P.), Local Transport Plan (L.T.P.), the Derelict Land Programme and City Challenge but it provides a context for them. It allows the opportunity for an integrated approach to their formulation and implementation making full use of available resources.
Plan Progress
2.4 A Consultation Draft of the UDP was endorsed by North Tyneside Council in October 1993 and published for public consultation from February to April 1994. A full schedule of all consultation responses was published in October 1994 and is available as a separate document.
2.5 The Council took account of the consultation responses and other material factors and has in April 1996 approved a revised version of the UDP (The North Tyneside Unitary Development Plan Deposit Draft) which was placed on deposit from 10 December 1996 to 20 January 1997 with late representations accepted to 3 February 1997.
2.6 Following consideration of the responses and taking into account any other relevant matters the Council approved Proposed Changes to the Deposit UDP in September 1999. These were placed on deposit for a six week period which concluded on 25 October 1999.
2.7 The Proposed Changes together with any counter objections and objections to the Deposit Draft UDP were considered at a Public Local Inquiry which ran from 1 February 2000 to 3 October 2000. The Inspectors report was received in January 2001.
2.8 The Council considered the Inspectors report in July 2001 and in August 2001 placed on deposit a Statement of Proposed Modifications to the Plan.
2.9 The Council considered objections to the Proposed Modifications in January 2002 and published its intention to adopt the plan on 4 February 2002. The plan was adopted on 5 March 2002.
Format
2.10 The U.D.P. comprises this document (the Written Statement) and a Proposals Map.
2.11 The Written Statement is in two main sections: Part I is a statement of borough-wide policies providing a context and framework for the detailed proposals in Part II. It sets out a broad development and land use strategy for the borough including policies for the improvement of its physical environment, conservation of its natural beauty, and management of traffic.
It includes:-
- Introduction (this chapter). This sets out the form, function and progress of the UDP to date.
- Strategy and Part I Policies (Chapter 3). This includes the aims and objectives of the plan together with strategic policies and the context within which it has been prepared. Part II forms the basis for deciding planning applications and includes the Council's detailed proposals stemming from its strategic Part I policies. It contains a reasoned justification for the strategic policies in Part I and the proposals in Part II. It includes: A set of topic based chapters (Chapters 4-11) together with a Glossary and Index covering:
- The Local Economy
- Environment
- Housing
- Shopping
- Transportation
- Open Space and Recreation
- Resources
- Development Control/Policy Statements
- Glossary
- Index
2.12 The Part I Strategic Policies are set out in bold upper case type within a box and are repeated in this format in each relevant Part II topic chapter for completeness. Detailed Part II proposals are also in bold upper case type but within a shaded background.
2.13 The Proposals Map at 1/12,500 scale on an ordnance survey base shows the plans proposals on a borough wide map together with three inset maps covering the town centres of Wallsend, North Shields and Whitley Bay.
2.14 In considering any proposed development it will be necessary to refer to the UDP as a whole. In considering the relationship between a specific proposal and the UDP all policies that might be relevant must be taken into account, as required by Policy DC1.
2.15 Inevitably the text of the UDP includes some acronyms, abbreviations, or technical terms, although their use has been kept to a minimum. Some are not widely used outside land use planning documents, or have a particular meaning when used in such documents. Accordingly a glossary is set out to assist the user of the UDP.