{"id":158,"date":"2025-10-03T10:35:30","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T10:35:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tynemouth.news\/?p=158"},"modified":"2025-10-03T11:18:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T11:18:16","slug":"consultation-response-local-plan-oct-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tynemouth.news\/index.php\/2025\/10\/03\/consultation-response-local-plan-oct-25\/","title":{"rendered":"Consultation Response – Local Plan Oct 25"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

below is the response submitted by Tom to the October Local Plan Visions & Options Consultation, it is published here as part of our commitment to openness. The next stage of consultation for the Local Plan will open in December. We have published advice here <\/a>on how you can contribute.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This response represents my view as elected Councillor on what would be in the best interests of the Tynemouth Residents that I represent, young and old, acknowledging that individual needs and views will differ. I have also encouraged residents to make their own submissions to the local plan process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am also writing to represent the interests of the young people who attend school in Tynemouth Ward, this is a significant community who\u2019s interests might otherwise be neglected. As the plan process moves on to the next stage, I will work to find ways to involve these school communities directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any comments in this submission are in the context of acknowledging the difficulties of developing the viable plan we need under UK legislation and the formidable financial interests in play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meeting Housing Targets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Tynemouth Ward is split between denser walkable areas close to Metro with house types that include Apartments, Terraced Houses and Tyneside Flats vs. other areas with less dense semi-detached and detached homes, some better connected than others. The Ward is well served by green space, retail and leisure facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most Tynemouth Residents acknowledge the need for new homes but would be unlikely to support extensive green belt release for new housing. Instead residents preference would be for use of brownfield sites and better use of land already released from greenbelt but not yet consented for development. Making the housing target numbers add up in line with this preference is very difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tynemouth itself represents an example of the strong demand for dense mixed housing, well served by public transport and community facilities. There are over 2,000 dwellings located within walking distance of Tynemouth Metro Station, including many social homes. Housebuilders will always argue that all housing demand is for more disconnected sprawl, but my residents know that this is untrue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is considerable contrast between Tynemouth Village\u2019s housing mix and that proposed around the new Metro Station for Murton Gap. Maybe we could aim to build dense, well connected, interesting, mixed-use places on the edge of countryside that people will want to visit?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019d ask that the report \u201cStepping Off The Road To Nowhere<\/a>\u201d published by the thinktank Create Streets is considered as part of the plan evidence base. Although aimed at central government there is much a local plan could take from it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n