Heart of Walker Supplementary Planning Document
Consultation Responses
February 2009
Heart of Walker Supplementary Planning Document Consultation Statement under Section 18(4)(b) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004
This consultation statement meets the requirements of Section 18(4)(b) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004 with regard to the adoption of a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the Heart of Walker (HOW SPD) which states that:
(4) A local planning authority shall not adopt an SPD until-
(a)they have considered any representations made in accordance with paragraph (2); and
(b) have prepared a statement setting out-
(i)a summary of the main issues raised in these representations, and
(ii)how these issues have been addressed in the SPD which they intend to adopt.
Previous community engagement undertaken
To meet the requirements of Section 17 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004 the Council undertook community consultation both informally and formally.
Informal consultation
As identified previously at the Planning and Transport Committee meeting on the 27th March, between February and April 2007 the ‘One Big Month’ community engagement event took place in Walker Riverside where over 30 consultation events took place which generated around 1500 responses from local residents.
In May 2007 a two day ‘Heart of Walker’ place making event took place in which representatives from the local community groups and residents developed four options for how they believed the Heart of Walker should be designed. The four options were then taken away and 3D virtual models were produced for viewing.
Between August and September 2007 the four options that had been developed by the key stakeholders at the consultation events were shown to the public for further comments. This engagement involved five consultation events plus door to door surveys being undertaken. In total this generated approximately 400 responses.
The four options generated differing levels of support and so after receiving the responses from the community, a hybrid model was developed which encompassed as much as possible the most popular or important aspects from each of the four options.
In October 2007, City Council officers reported on the community consultation responses to the Heart of Walker Riverside Steering Group
Formal Consultation
In view of approval from the Planning and Transport Committee meeting on the 27th March undertake the formal period required for SPDs. The formal consultation period for the HOW SPD commenced on Monday 31st March 2008 and was originally scheduled to be completed on the 19th May but because of problems with postal deliveries,the final date was extended to the Thursday 22nd May.
The full proposals and accompanying documentation were made available to view at the following locations:
- Lightfoot Sports Centre;
- Thomas Gaughan Community Centre;
- Walker Riverside Information Centre (Walker Road);
- Churchwalk Centre;
- Walker Library; and
- NewcastleCity Council Customer Service Centre (Civic Offices).
Additionally, the all the documentation was available to view and download on the SPD consultation page of the Council website www.newcastle.gov.uk.
Alongside the statutory notice in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle and Newcastle Journal, a special edition ‘Walker Eye’ newsletter was distributed to every household within Walker Riverside. This included notification of the locations of where the full proposals were available to view.
The following statutory and relevant consultees were notified in writing of the Heart of Walker SPD consultation proposals with identification of the consultation period start and end date:
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Specific Consultees
British Gas
British Telecom
English Heritage
Environment Agency
Highways Agency
National Grid Property Ltd
Natural England
North East Assembly (as Regional Planning Body)
North of Tyne Primary Care Trust
North Tyneside Council (as appropriate adjoining local authority)
Northern Gas Networks Ltd
Northumbrian Water Limited
One North East (as Regional Development Agency)
Telewest Communications Ltd
Government Departments
Government Office for the North East for:
Communities and Local Government
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Department for Transport
Department for Work and Pensions
Department of Constitutional Affairs
Department of Health
Department of Trade and Industry
Home Office
General Consultation Bodies and Other Consultees
Age Concern Newcastle
Arriva Plc
Arthritis Group
Bellway Homes
BelmontMethodistChurch
Belmont Residents Association
Bridging NewcastleGateshead Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder
Building Futures East
Cambrian Residents Association
Church Walk Residents Association
Community Catering Initiative
Credit Union
Disability North
Dovercourt Residents Association
East Area Asylum Seekers Support
East End Community Development Alliance
East End Health
Elders Council of Newcastle
Energy Saving Trust
English Partnerships
Friends of Walker Park
Gill’s Pharmacy
Go North East
Help the Aged
Institute for Ageing and Health
ISOS Housing Group
John Boste Youth Centre
Kids Kabin
Lightfoot Sports Centre
Living Steets
NewcastleCollege
Newcastle East End ADHD Support Group
Newcastle Locality Partnership
Newcastle Partnership (as Local Strategic Partnership)
North East Chambers of Commerce
North East Pensioner’s Association
Northern Architecture
Northumberland Wildlife Trust Ltd
Northumbrian Police Architectural Liaison Officer
Oval and Bakewell Terrace Residents Association
Park View Residents Association
Places for People
Planning Aid North
Pottery Bank Residents Group
Rathbone (Church Walk office)
Royal Mail Group Plc c/o Sanderson Weatherall
Sport England (North East Region)
St Anthony’s General Medical Practice
St Anthony's Children’s House
St Anthony's of EgyptPrimary School
St Vincent’s Primary School
Stagecoach
Sustrans
Thomas Gaughan Centre
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service
Tyne and Wear Local Access Forum
TyneviewPrimary School
Walker Central Football Club
WalkerChurches Together
Walker Library
Walker Tech
Walker Walkers
Wellbeck Road Medical Practice
WestWalkerPrimary School
WharrierStreetPrimary School
Wor Hoose
YMCA
Your Homes Newcastle
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Level of response
In total 119 responses were received by the Council by the close date of the consultation.
HOW SPD consultation key issues
Issue: proposed school site
There was concern amongst residents regarding the principle of a proposed new primary school and site. Within a number of issues wereraised:
Regarding the proposed merger between Wharrier Street primary school and St Anthony’s Church of England primary school, responses received indicated a concern regarding this issue.
Officer response
The potential merger is not being led by or a result of the Heart of Walker SPD as residents had believed. The proposed merger is instead one of the recommendations currently set out the within the draft ‘Strategy for Change’ document produced by educational services. The draft recommendation has been based on educational attainment, projected pupil enrolment levels and condition of school buildings across the city. The potential for the merger of the two schools will be subject to a separate consultation period to be held in the autumn/winter of 2008 with a final decision to be made thereafter. It is important to note that the Strategy for Change is independent of the How SPD. If the HOW SPD proposals were not taking place the Strategy forChange recommendations would still be proceeding.
The location of the proposed school site has concerned both parents and pupils from Wharrier Street and St Anthony’s primary schools. Responses expressed concern about the proximity of the site to the proposed retail, community facilities and shared play space with the Lightfoot Centre. There was a fear that antisocial behaviour would provide a risk to the pupils during teaching as well as travelling to and from school. There was also concern on the arrangements that would be in place for crossing Walker Road to ensure that pupils and parents would be safe crossing to reach the school.
Officer response
Full traffic assessments and design and access statements will form part of the outline planning application. These will set out what mitigating measures (if required) will be needed to ensure that safe and convenient crossing opportunities forWalker Road are available. The remit of SPDs is not to include such detailed information although it is accepted that these are legitimate issues for consideration. However, it should be noted that one of the key objectives for the regeneration programme is to breakdown physical and social barriers to help contribute towards social cohesion, this includes the perceived barrier of Walker Road.
The design, layout and size of the proposed school site has raised concerns, particularly whether the proposed site has the capacity to accommodate the required building specification and whether the orientation and layout of the building will facilitate an improved learning environment for pupils.
Officer response
Primary schools are developed to prescribed educational standards. This in addition to the guidance in the adopted Design Code SPD as well as urban design principles will ensure that the school building is fit for purpose and will contribute towards improved academic performance.
Issue: Car parking provision
There was concern that car parking provision was insufficient to meet the needs of parents, school employees and for delivery vehicleswhich park in and around school buildings.
Officer response
Parking provision for the school as well as all the development across the HOW area will be in accordance with planning policies contained within the Unitary Development Plan and as such will meet Council standards.
It should be noted that one of the objectives of the HOW SPD is to reduce the need to travel by car. This is achieved by creating more direct access to services and facilities and also locating complimentary services in closer proximity. These measures will enable greater opportunity to walk, cycle and bus to locations, dependant on personal circumstances.
Issue: Housing development
There was concern that housing development would not meet local need, in particular the provision of affordable housing particularly social rented homes.
Officer response
The commitment to delivering housing to meet local need as well as attract new residents to the area is set out within policies HP3 and HP4 of the Walker Riverside Area Action (WRAAP). These policies set out that the Council will deliver a range of housing types and tenures at 80% - 20% split between market sale and social rented.
It is accepted that local communities may not be familiar with the policies and objectives of the WRAAP and so it has been decided to include the policy commitment for housing within the HOW SPD.
Issue: Library provision
There was concern about the impact of potential library provision in the multiuse community facilities building may have on that already provided by Walker Library (Wellbeck Road). There was concern that opening a similar facility in the HOW would lead to the closure of Walker library. It should be noted that the majority of responses received were from the users of Walker Library.
Officer response
The current position of the Culture, Libraries and Lifelong Learning service is that it is important to be kept aware of regeneration opportunities in considering future library provision. To date there has been no decision has been made to either locate a library provision in the HOW area or close Walker Library. Only through engagement with ward members and local communities will a final decision on library provision in Walker Riverside and the wider Walker area be made.
Issue: Safety and security
Overall safety and security of residents and users of facilities was identified as a key issue. There was concern that unless adequate and proactive security, policing and management measures were in place, local users would be unlikely to fully utilise the services and facilities being provided. There was concern that the current levels of antisocial behaviour and criminal activity in the area would jeopardise the success of the HOW project.
Officer response
Safety and security is understandably a major concern for local communities. The remit of the HOW SPD is limited in that it can not really prescribe or implement crime prevention activities in the same way that Northumbria Police would. However, the HOW SPD does require developers to engage with the architectural liaisonofficer from Northumbria Police early in the development design stage. This willenableidentification of any potentialdesign solutions which can be integrated into building and landscape design from the onset. All new housing development in Walker Riverside is required to meet the Secured by Design standard. As a Council we also have to comply with section 17(1) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 which states “without prejudice to any other obligation imposed on it, it shall be the duty of a local authority to exercise its various functions with due regard to the likely effect of the exercise of those functions on, and the need to do all that it reasonably can to prevent crime and disorder in its area”.
Issue: Consultation process
There was concern about the methods, processes and techniques used to engage with communities and whether the ones implemented were most appropriate.
Officer response
Although not directly related to the policies and proposals within the HOW SPD, the feedback received will be considered prior to future community consultation events to ensure that methods and techniques are more tailored to the needs, requirements and wishes of local communities.
Issue: Management and maintenance
A number of responses raised queries about the relative lack of information in the HOW SPD regarding management and maintenance arrangements in the post development phase.
Officer response
Although these issues are important considerations in the development process, the remit of SPDs is not to include this type of information. Management and maintenance arrangement will be drawn up via legal agreements/contracts and will be required to be in place prior to determination of planning applications.
Issue: Loss of playing pitches at the Lightfoot Sports Centre
Sport England’s policy is that any loss of playing space must be reprovide with the same management arrangements, unless there is an oversupply of play space identified in the playing pitch strategy.
Officer Response
We are currently working with Sport England to develop options to where possible mitigate against the loss of play space at the Lightfoot Sports Centre as the playing pitch strategy does not show an over provision in the area. This work is ongoing
All consultation responses have been acknowledged by the Council. The following table sets out a summary of the response received as well as the recommendation for change to the HOW SPD. The responses which were received late have been segregated within the table.
Summary of responses to HOW SPD consultation April 7 2008 – May 222008
Ref / Support / Area / Cllr / Summary of response1 / Mixed / WR / No / Has read SPD.
Does not support overall proposal or development and planning for HOW, or public transport/car use principles.
Lightfoot/Walker Road should have a clear link and support proposals for open space.
Not sure on support for mix of uses or design principles for HOW.
Make aware once adopted.
2 / Mixed / WR / No / Has read SPD.
Does not support overall proposal or development and planning for HOW, or public transport/car use principles.
Lightfoot/Walker Road should have a clear link and support proposals for open space.
Not sure on support for mix of uses or design principles for HOW.
Make aware once adopted.
3 / Mixed / WR / No / Has read SPD.
Does not support overall proposal or development and planning for HOW, or design principles for HOW.
Lightfoot/Walker Road should have a clear link and support proposals for open space.
Not sure on support for mix of uses or design principles for HOW.
Make aware once adopted.
4 / No / OWR / No / No comment on whether SPD has been read.
Does not support overall proposal of the SPD.
Comments - What about the rest of Walker?
The heart of Walker is on the fringe of Newcastle.
Make aware once adopted.
5 / No / OWR / No / Has not read SPD.
Does not support any of the SPD principles or plans.
Comments - Do not move Walker Library, we like it where it is.
6 / No / OWR / No / Has read Walker Eye special.
Support only for open space proposals, does not support any other SPD principles or plans.
Comments - Does not want the library moved.