Council to consider blueprint for the city

The Development and Allocations Plan (DAP) shows developers how the council wants to see the city grow over the next 10 years. It informs where, and how many, jobs and houses will be built as well as setting out policies for open space and biodiversity. 

The DAP and Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan (CSUCP) together make up Newcastle’s Local Plan. The Core Strategy was approved in 2015 but approval for the DAP will be considered by full council on Wednesday, June 24. 

Cabinet Member for Employment and Culture, Cllr Ged Bell, said: “This next stage of the Local Plan is important as it helps guide decision-making progress for planning applications, and allocates specific areas of land for employment and housing. 

“The population of Newcastle is growing, so it’s essential we balance the needs of all our residents while protecting the environment and tackling climate change as we aim to be a carbon zero by 2030. 

“We want to make Newcastle to be a great place to live, work and visit, and this plan is about providing the right development in the right places at the right time.” 

The DAP sets out detailed policies used to make planning decisions, area designations and site allocations for specific types of development to meet the need for new homes and jobs up to 2030. It also contains detailed policies for the protection of the natural and built environment. 

This new stage of the Local Plan supports the spatial vision, strategic objectives and scale of growth in the Core Strategy. Together both plans will provide strategic and detailed planning policies which will help manage development across the city.  

Cllr Bell added: “We are an ambitious city so need clear policies that provide certainty to potential developers to encourage investment into the city, which sends a strong message that Newcastle is open for business. This is more important now than ever with the pandemic having caused so much economic dislocation.” 

“But the plan also provides clarity on future housing sites, access to employment, protection of our green infrastructure and natural environment and transport.” 

The council carried out consultation with local communities at each stage of the plan’s preparation and gave them the opportunity to have their say about what happens in their neighbourhood.