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

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5.2 Local Policy Context
5.2.1Newcastle Unitary Development Plan (1998)
The Newcastle Unitary Development Plan (UDP) was adopted in
January 1998 and covers the period up to 2006. The review of the
UDP is about to commence and will involve its replacement with
a Local Development Framework (LDF). A Key Issues Report
was published in March 2004 to gain initial comments and
feedback on areas where significant changes of policy or new
issues that have arisen.
Policies in the UDP clearly support the retention of Walker
Riverside for employment uses and specifically support the
regeneration of the wider area.
Employment
With regards to economic development and employment, the
UDP states that economic revitalisation requires the economy to
diversify into new sectors of employment, securing inward
investment, retaining and providing for the expansion of existing
businesses and assisting new business formation
Newcastle is dominated by the service sector and this will
continue in the foreseeable future. However, the need to expand
employment in manufacturing will create a broader economic
base. The UDP states that existing industrial areas which are
well located and close to areas of high unemployment are
valuable and will contribute to the range and choice of economic
development opportunities.
Housing Strategy
Land is allocated to allow for 10,000 dwellings to provide the
number, range and choice of dwellings during the plan period
1988-2006 (556 per year) and stabilise the population.
Site Specific Policies
Employment
The study area is defined within the adopted UDP for the
retention of industrial uses (ED3.1). The southern end of the
study area is identified as an area of economic development
(ED1.1), while the north of the study area is marked as an area
for industrial and commercial improvement (See Fig. 5.1). The
following strategic and local policies apply:
Policy No
Employment
ED1
ED1.1
ED3
ED3.1
ED04
ED4.1
Policy Text
Sufficient land will be provided to allow a range and choice of sites and
opportunities by size, location and quality which can secure economic and
employment growth for the benefit of the city and the region.
Land is allocated for the following economic development uses in accordance with
Policy ED1.
Format: Site (Area in hectares) Category
A) Offices, high technology industry, R & D (B1) and High Tech uses with clean
industrial processes within use class B2
1. Northern development area (80.0) 1
B) Business (B1)
2. Collingwood Clinic (5.4) 2
3. St. Silas, Shields Road (1.0) 4
C) Business and general industry (B1, B2, B8)
4. Newburn Haugh (75.0) 3
5. Walker Riverside Industrial Estate (7.9) 4 – Good quality urban site
6. Sandhills (2.7) 4
7. Heaton Junction (5.2) 4
8. Fowberry Road, Scotswood (0.5) 5
D) Airport related uses
9. Newcastle international Airport (203.0) N/A
E) Essential services for trunk road users
10.North Brunton (2.0) N/A
Land and premises allocated for industrial and business use will be safeguarded for
primarily classes B1 (Light Industry, Offices, and Research & Development) B2
(General Industry), and B8 (Storage and Distribution); development for other uses
will not be allowed.
In the following areas allocated for industrial and business use, development will be
restricted to Classes B1, B2 and B8. This restriction does not apply to development
of an existing use which is not B1, B2 or B8 and which does not involve a change of
use:
34) Walker Riverside Industrial Park
35) Walker Riverside
Planning permission will be granted for development which assists the
regeneration of older industrial area provided that any proposed scheme is
appropriate having regard to the policies of the plan and other material
considerations.
Walker Riverside is identified for industrial and commercial improvement in
accordance with Policy ED4.
Walker Riverside Feasibility Study Section 1 - p. 23