Feasibility Study for the Industrial Area - Part 1 (PDF 5 MB)

www.cbuchanan.co.uk
development on open space.
- Policy ENV14 regarding the historic landscape seeks to
preserve, in situ, Scheduled Ancient Monuments.
- Policy ENV15 designates Hadrian’s Wall as a world
heritage site and aims to protect the setting of the site
from inappropriate development.
Transport
The Walker Riverside Area contains a deep water facilities and
therefore the following policy supports the protection of such
sites.
- Policy T16 promotes the safeguarding of sites adjacent to
ports for associated development.
Energy
identified for restricted employment uses. It is likely that this
provision will not be developed in its entirety by 2021. The plan
identifies that Newcastle should allocate up to 165ha of
employment land, including;
- 25ha general employment land;
- 10ha of mixed use allocation; and
- 130ha of prestige employment sites.
Even with the likely predicted increase in land requirements,
there remains an oversupply in Northumberland, County Durham
and Tees Valley. However, a potential shortfall is identified in Tyne
and Wear.
Prestigious employment sites are identified within policy 21, and
do not include Walker Riverside. The policy designates the
following sites:
The RSS supports the development off-shore wind clusters which
is reflected in the policy below and supporting paragraphs.
- Policy EN2 on renewable energy states that development
plans and other strategies should identify the general
locations of Strategic Wind Resource Areas, including offshore
locations.
5.1.2 Regional Spatial Strategy for the North
East – Consultation Draft - RSS 1 (2004)
The RSS consultation draft was published in November 2004 and
will replace the existing RSS (2002). The policies of the plan
have an end date of 2021, however, some policies will guide
development over a longer period. The strategy aims to reduce
the economic and social disparities between the North East and
other regions, by moving towards a more knowledge based
economy and regenerating areas that have experienced high
levels of socio-economic deprivation, urban dereliction and low
demand.
The locational strategy for the North East is based on ‘the two
city regions concept - the Tyne and Wear and Tees Valley. The
RSS supports the development of these city regions in
conjunction with developing vibrant rural areas (i.e. market towns
and rural service centres).
Employment Strategy
The strategy builds upon the Regional Economic Strategy for the
Region, by supporting the continued restructuring of the economy
to capture the growth potential of new innovative industries such
as the renewable energy sector and the service and information
technology sector. At present, the economy of the region is
changing with more emphasis on the service sector, knowledge
based industries and closer links between universities and
businesses. Employment in manufacturing is expected to
decline. However, the Strategy stresses that it remains an
important sector for the regions economy and provision should be
made for further developments within this sector.
Following the Regional Employment Land Survey and Local Plan
reviews, a number of sites designated for employment purposes
have been de-allocated, however, there still remains provision for
approximately 2,700 ha, which also takes into account sites
- West Hartford, Cramlington - This site is being marketed
as a Bioscience Park, and comprises of 55ha of land with
good transport accessibility.
- Newcastle Great Park - Location for digital based
businesses, with a focus on innovation and
entrepreneurship, providing incubator units for start-up
firms and facilities for technology transfer, financial and
management support.
- Newburn Riverside, Newcastle - Located on the north side
of the River Tyne which has planning permission for B1, B2
and B8 uses.
- North of Sunderland - The site could potentially cross 3
local authorities including Sunderland, Gateshead and
South Tyneside. It will provide land for regionally
significant emerging growth sectors and could support
cluster/campus developments to support knowledge based
industries.
- Knowledge Campus, Baltic Business Park Gateshead -
This is an international centre, providing workspaces,
technology based products and on-line services to the
global product development community.
- North East Technology Park, Sedgefield - Conceived as a
regional centre for technology transfer.
- Wynard Business Park – being developed for business
purposes, including electronics’ and high tech sectors.
Sites adjacent to ports and deep water passages are considered
assets and should be protected where they have a realistic
potential of port related purposes.
In terms of the renewable energy, on -shore wind schemes are
being promoted in certain locations within Policy 44, that have
the least environmental impact. With regards proposals for
offshore wind developments along the North East , the strategy
supports their development in principle, subject to local
assessment. The RSS also stresses that it is unlikely that
further commercial offshore wind site/wave energy generation will
come forward in the region before 2010, other than those already
committed. It is also too early to consider the potential for future
deep water offshore wind developments, although this will be
reviewed in subsequent RSS reviews.
Walker Riverside Feasibility Study Section 1 - p. 21