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

www.cbuchanan.co.uk
Environmental
A number of other designations affect the Walker Riverside study area,
including the following:
- Open space; Hadrian’s Way Strategic Recreation Route;
Existing Recreation Route; River Tyne Wildlife Corridor; Wildlife
Corridor; Site of Local Conservation Interest (SLCI); Secondary
distributor road; and Proposed cycling route.
A summary of relevant strategic policies and the corresponding site
specific policy is provided below which applies to the Walker Riverside
Area.
Policy No
Environmental
EN4
OS1
Policy Text
Development closely related to the rivers and riverside will only be permitted if it:
is appropriate, imaginative and sensitive to river settings;
contributes to the renewal and improvement of the riverside corridors; and
does not significantly detract from the amenity of a riverside corridor or reduce access
to the riverside.
The best possible standards in the range, amount, distribution, accessibility and quality
of open space will be sought throughout the city by:
preventing the loss of open space to development;
maintaining and improving the existing open space;
creating new open space where opportunities occur and in association with new
development;
promoting recreation in the countryside through schemes for environmental
improvement, public access, and appropriate facilities; and
pursing provision for all needs in the community, including those of children, the elderly
and people with disabilities.
0S1.4 Development which would cause demonstrable harm to any public open space or private
open space for outdoor sport, will not be allowed. Harm includes the loss of the space in
whole or part development, and will therefore only be allowed in exceptional
circumstances in accordance with policy OS1.5.
OS1.5
OS1.6
OS2
OS2.1
NC1
NC1.1
NC1.3
NC1.5
NC1.6
C4
Development affecting an open space subject to policy OS1.4 may only be allowed if any
of the following exceptional circumstances apply:
it is for recreational purposes relevant to the use of the space;
it is for new or improved essential local community facilities for which there are no
alternative sites;
the only mean of retaining or enhancing the open space is through development of a
small part; and
alternative provision of equivalent community benefit is made available.
Sites are identified as open space for the purposes of policies OS1, OS1.4 and OS1.5.
This includes Walker Riverside Park – an area of countryside character.
A recreation route network is defined which will:
give safe, easy access for walkers, cyclists and horse riders to key open spaces,
recreation sites and leisure facilities;
be accessible to all neighborhoods;
link the urban are with the countryside;
allow recreation in the countryside subject to wildlife considerations;
link with recreational routes in adjoining districts to create strategic routes of regional
and national importance thereby widening recreation choice; and
be accessible to all sections of the community.
Hadrian’s Way - the designated route of Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail will be
developed as a strategic recreational route of regional and national importance.
The nature conservation resources of the city will be maintained and enhanced by the
protection of habitats and features and a requirement on all new development to take
account of the needs of wildlife.
Development which would cause demonstrable harm to a site of Nature Conservation
Importance (SNCI) or site of Local Conservation Importance (SLCI) will only be allowed:
Where there is a proven public interest which outweighs the harm to the site;
Where it can be shown that the need for the development cannot be met in other
locations where less harm to wildlife interests would be caused, or by reasonable
alternative means; and
Where it is possible to impose conditions, or where planning obligations have been
entered into which prevent damaging impacts on wildlife habitats or important natural
features.
Walker Riverside is defined as a site of Local Conservation Interest (SLCI) for the
purpose of NC1.1:
Development which would harm the nature conservation value of a wildlife corridor will
be allowed only in exceptional circumstances.
Wildlife corridors are identified for the purpose of Policy NC1.5 and include Walker
Riverside.
Development which would harm sites or areas of archaeological interest and their
setting will not be allowed.
C4.1 Hadrian’s Wall is identified as a Scheduled Ancient Monument for the purposes of Policy
C4.
Transport
T5
The needs of pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders will be acknowledged city-wide and
in new developments.
T5.4 The citywide network of cycle routes will be extended by development of the following
routes shown on the proposal map which are designated as cycle routes.
Walker Riverside Feasibility Study
Section 1 - p. 25