Planning in Newcastle upon Tyne

Design

Development will be required to deliver high quality and sustainable design by: 1. Taking full advantage of positive site features including retaining the best buildings and securing opportunities to improve the character and quality of an area. 2. Demonstrating a positive response to topography, natural and built landscapes. 3. Using materials, colours, tones and textures appropriate to the characteristics of the area. 4. Enhancing the appearance of the city from major movement corridors. 5. Accommodating an appropriate mix of uses. 6. Making efficient use of land by promoting higher densities where appropriate, taking account of the character of the area and location. 7. Taking a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach to development. 8. Incorporating hard and soft landscaping as an integral part of design, maximising tree planting, where appropriate, and providing for its long-term maintenance. 9. Providing high quality inclusive spaces and buildings which promote active and healthy lifestyles. 10. Incorporating measures to address the impacts of climate change and adverse microclimatic conditions. 11. Integrating mechanical plant, refuse and cycle storage into the design of a building. 12. Ensuring that development contributes to a reduction in crime and disorder and is resilient to terrorism, delivers safe and secure buildings and spaces.

Shopfronts and Signage

1. Development proposals which include shop frontages will be required to: i. retain, restore and, where appropriate, reinstate historic shopfront features where they would positively contribute to the character of the area; ii. incorporate new shopfronts which respect the design, materials, scale and proportions of their host building, and respect the character of the surrounding area; iii. design any external signage to reflect the scale and proportions of the shopfront, its host building and setting. 2. Any security measures affecting shopfronts will be required to respect the significance, context and appearance of the building and surrounding streetscene.

Temporary Shroud Adverts

Advertisement consent will only be granted for temporary shroud advertisements where: 1. The scale and illumination of the temporary shroud advertisement is appropriate to the building and its context. 2. Planning permission and/or listed building consent has been granted for the redevelopment or the refurbishment of the site. 3. The shroud advertisement is commensurate to the scale of the scaffolding relating to the above works, with a 1:1 image of the proposed or existing building also depicted on the shroud. 4. The shroud advertisement is acceptable in public safety terms. 5. The shroud is for a temporary period of not more than 12 months or the period of the works, whichever is the shorter.

Residential Amenity

1. Development will be required to provide a high quality environment and a good standard of residential amenity for existing and future occupants of land and dwellings. Development which would have an unacceptable adverse impact on the residential amenity of existing or future occupants of land and dwellings will not be allowed. 2. Impact on residential amenity will be assessed to: i. protect the distinctive character of the existing building(s) and the surrounding area with respect to the design, scale and materials used on the building(s); ii. protect trees and other soft landscaping of amenity value, providing replacement planting where necessary; iii. ensure development will maintain a good standard of daylight, sunlight, outlook and privacy for all existing and future occupants of buildings; iv. avoid the introduction of unacceptable additional accesses, traffic or parking resulting in an increase of visual intrusion, noise or disturbance; and v. ensure that noise, disturbances, smells, fumes and other harmful effects from surrounding land uses and/or associated operations will not have an unacceptable adverse impact on residential amenity.

Employment Sites

The employment sites listed in the table below and identified on the Policies Map are allocated for employment uses within Use Classes B1 (Business) B2 (General Industrial) and B8 (Storage or Distribution).

Protection of Employment Sites

Sites allocated for employment uses in Policy DM1 and the Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan will be restricted to employment uses within Classes B1 (Business), B2 (General Industrial) and B8 (Storage or Distribution). Uses outside of Use Classes B1, B2 and B8 on allocated employment sites will not be permitted unless all of the following criteria are met: 1. It can be demonstrated that there is no current or likely future demand for employment uses on the site within Use Classes B1, B2 or B8. To demonstrate this, it must be shown that: i. the site has not been occupied for a period of at least 2 years prior to the submission of a planning application; ii. any non-employment use proposed cannot be accommodated on alternative sites within the economic market area; and iii. there is documented evidence of sustained and active marketing for employment use, at local market rental levels, over a continuous period for a minimum of 2 years, and there was no interest expressed for employment uses. Evidence should be provided by marketing and an independent assessment, in accordance with the Employment Marketing Guidance set out in Appendix 8. 2. The proposed use would not prejudice current or future development of the surrounding employment area or detract from the role of the wider employment area. 3. The development would not undermine the future supply of employment sites across the city.

Minerals Extraction and Reclamation

1. Development of minerals operations will only be supported where it can be demonstrated that all material social, economic and environmental impacts that would cause demonstrable harm to the natural and historic environment or human health can be acceptably mitigated. Proposals will need to demonstrate no unacceptable adverse impact on: i. the natural, geological and built environment, including features of archaeological, historic or architectural importance; ii. landscape character; iii. nationally or locally designated wildlife sites, protected species and their habitats and ecological networks; iv. nationally protected landscapes; v. best and most versatile agricultural land; vi. human health and local amenity, including from noise, vibration, dust, lighting and visual intrusion; vii. road safety, traffic and local congestion; viii. air quality; ix. aviation safety; x. mining subsidence and land stability; xi. soil resources; xii. flood risk; xiii. the flow, quality and quantity of surface and groundwater and drainage; xiv. risk of contamination from the site; xv. the cumulative effects of multiple impacts from individual sites and/or a number of sites in a locality; and xvi. climate change. 2. Proposals for minerals extraction must include a detailed restoration, aftercare and after-use strategy and a programme of works that provides high quality aftercare and restoration which enhances its landscape, ecological and recreational value. 3. Minerals infrastructure sites for bulk transport, handling and processing of minerals, recycled and secondary aggregate facilities, and the manufacture of concrete and concrete products and coating facilities, including those identified on the Policies Map, will be safeguarded from unnecessary loss to non-mineral related development. Proposals for non-mineral development within a minerals infrastructure site will not be supported, unless it can be demonstrated that: i. The proposal will not prejudice the current or future use of the site; ii. The site is no longer needed for mineral handling, processing, storage and transport; or iii. Alternative minerals related infrastructure and/or capacity can be provided at an alternative site.

Area of Search

Dewley Hill site is designated on the Policies Map as an Area of Search for the extraction of coal and other secondary minerals. The acceptability of working this search area will be assessed in line with National and Local Plan Policy.

Protecting and Enhancing Green Infrastructure

Development will be required to optimise the benefits and to enhance existing green infrastructure assets, and contribute towards the delivery of new green infrastructure assets by: 1. Providing on-site green infrastructure, or where it can be demonstrated that this is not possible, contribute to off-site provision. 2. Addressing gaps in the Strategic Green Infrastructure Network corridors, providing improvements within the Opportunity Areas designated on the Policies Map, and enhancing the function of the Green Belt as a green infrastructure resource. 3. Requiring proposals for the creation of new green infrastructure assets or enhancements of existing green infrastructure assets to: i. maximise multifunctionality; ii. enhance connectivity and accessibility; iii. enhance biodiversity; iv. contribute to the area's character and improve visual amenity; v. take opportunities to include community involvement and education; vi. secure long-term maintenance and management; and vii. incorporate climate change mitigation measures. 4. Any development that would have an adverse impact on green infrastructure assets will be required to demonstrate that the benefits of any development will outweigh the harm.

Trees and Landscaping

1. Development will be required to protect, enhance and manage existing trees and landscape features. 2. Development which would unacceptably harm or result in the loss of trees or landscape features, will not be permitted unless it can be demonstrated that: i. development cannot be reasonably located elsewhere within the development site; ii. the need for and benefits of development clearly outweighs any harm to ecological value, landscape quality and historical significance of the area and in the case of ancient woodland and veteran trees there are wholly exceptional reasons; and iii. appropriate mitigation and/or enhancement measures are provided. 3. Development will be required to include new trees and landscape features where appropriate, which: i. enhance the quality and character of the development and surrounding area; ii. provide connectivity and enhancements where possible to the Strategic Green Infrastructure Network Corridors and Wildlife Enhancement Corridors; iii. assist in providing multifunctional environmental benefits; and iv. assist in reducing or mitigating run-off and flood risk.

Protecting and Enhancing Geodiversity, Biodiversity and Habitats

1. Development which may affect any designated site, biodiversity or important habitat or species, or geological feature must be supported by an up to date ecological assessment to ensure the likely impact of the proposal can be assessed and mitigated. 2. Development which has a direct or indirect adverse effect on a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) should not normally be permitted. 3. Development which directly or indirectly causes significant harm to a Local Nature Reserve (LNR), Local Wildlife Site (LWS), Local Geological Site (LGS), and/or Site of Local Conservation Interest (SLCI), as designated on the Policies Map, and/or protected species should be avoided. Where significant harm cannot be avoided, development will be refused unless: i. adequate mitigation measures to offset any loss or disturbance which outweigh the harm to the biodiversity and/or geodiversity value of the site, habitat and species is secured; ii. as a last resort where harm cannot be avoided or fully mitigated compensatory measures are secured. 4. Development which would have an adverse effect on priority habitats and priority species will not be permitted unless adequate mitigation can be provided. 5. Development which would have an adverse effect on the biodiversity value or connectivity and function of the Wildlife Enhancement Corridor as designated on the Policies Map, will only be permitted where adequate mitigation is secured. 6. Development will be required to protect and enhance habitats and provide net gains in biodiversity by: i. retaining natural features and habitats and protecting them during construction; ii. maintaining and improving buffers and ecological connectivity to the wider environment; iii. creating and restoring habitat to provide corridors and stepping stones for wildlife; and iv. securing future management arrangements.

Environmental and Health Impacts of Development

1. Proposals will be required to demonstrate that there is no unacceptable adverse environmental and health impacts (including cumulative impacts) from the development. To achieve this development must assess and mitigate the following environmental and health impacts: i. air quality and the opportunities to improve air quality; ii. noise, vibration and overheating arising from the development; iii. known or suspected land contamination or instability which would place existing or future occupants and users at risk; iv. light pollution levels from artificial light on amenity and biodiversity; v. odours which would have an impact on amenity; and vi. hazardous installations, ensuring they do not place existing or future occupants and users at risk. 2. Development must assess the impact of existing noise generating uses on the proposed development and implement a mitigation scheme, where appropriate, on the proposed use. There should be no unreasonable restrictions placed on an existing noise generating use arising from a development.

Flood Risk and Water Management

1. Development will be required to manage and reduce flood risk by: i. avoiding the culverting of watercourses, building over culverts, and where possible, remove existing culverts; ii. maximising permeable surfaces and incorporate green infrastructure, to reduce surface water run-off within Critical Drainage Areas; iii. contributing to reducing or delaying run-off within river catchments through river restoration, creation of upstream storage areas, and tree planting, where appropriate; and iv. minimising development on existing green space where it has the potential to manage flood risk at catchment scale. 2. Development will be required to demonstrate that its surface water drainage strategy, site layout and design will: i. prevent properties from flooding from surface water, including an allowance for climate change and urban creep; ii. not increase the risk of flooding elsewhere and that exceedance flows will be managed; iii. ensure run-off from development is constrained to greenfield rates, or as close to greenfield rates as possible; for brownfield sites, up to a minimum 50% reduction; iv. manage surface water as close to source as possible using source control measures; v. follow the SuDS management train approach, to manage water quantity and quality throughout the site; vi. provide the most sustainable SuDS techniques from the SuDS Hierarchy; vii. where feasible and appropriate, integrate SuDS into public open space and connect to adjacent watercourses or wetlands; and viii. demonstrate the life-time maintenance and management of the SuDS. 3. Development must ensure it takes the opportunity to protect and improve surface and ground water quality and quantity and enhances the river environment by: i. implementing appropriate water pollution control measures; ii. including measures to treat surface water run-off pollution within the design of the drainage system; iii. safeguarding and providing river buffers with appropriate habitat; iv. naturalising watercourse channels and creation of wetland habitat; v. improving biodiversity and ecological connectivity of watercourses and its banks; and vi. mitigating agricultural and urban diffuse pollution, including impacts from the transport network.

Protecting and Enhancing Green Infrastructure

Development will be required to optimise the benefits and to enhance existing green infrastructure assets, and contribute towards the delivery of new green infrastructure assets by: 1. Providing on-site green infrastructure, or where it can be demonstrated that this is not possible, contribute to off-site provision. 2. Addressing gaps in the Strategic Green Infrastructure Network corridors, providing improvements within the Opportunity Areas designated on the Policies Map, and enhancing the function of the Green Belt as a green infrastructure.

Protecting and Enhancing Biodiversity and Geodiversity

1. Development which would have an adverse effect on a designated nature conservation site (SSSI, LNR, LWS, SLCI or LGS) will not be permitted unless the need for and benefit derived from the development outweigh the nature conservation value of the site and fully mitigated compensatory measures are secured. 2. Development which would have an adverse effect on priority habitats and priority species will not be permitted unless adequate mitigation can be provided. 3. Development which would have an adverse effect on the biodiversity value or connectivity and function of the Wildlife Enhancement Corridor as designated on the Policies Map, will only be permitted where adequate mitigation is secured. 4. Development will be required to protect and enhance habitats and provide net gains in biodiversity by: i. retaining natural features and habitats and protecting them during construction; ii. maintaining and improving buffers and ecological connectivity to the wider environment; iii. creating and restoring habitat to provide corridors and stepping stones for wildlife; and iv. securing future management arrangements.

Protecting and Providing for Open Space, Sports and Recreational Buildings and Land

1. Development of open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields, as shown on the Policies Map, will not be permitted unless an assessment has been undertaken in accordance with the council's open space standards for existing provision as set out in Table 1 and information used from the council's Open Space Assessment, Plan for Playing Pitches and Plan for Built Facilities demonstrating: i. there is a proven surplus of such provision and the proposed loss will not result in a current or likely shortfall in the plan period; or ii. any loss resulting from development will be replaced by the equivalent or better provision in terms of both quality and quantity in a suitable location; or iii. the development proposed is for alternative sports and recreation provision the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use. 2. Development which would result in the loss of open space not shown on the Policies Map that contributes to the character and visual amenity of an area will not be permitted unless it can be demonstrated that the benefits of development clearly outweigh the loss. 3. Development of ancillary facilities on open space will be supported where: i. it is necessary to or would facilitate the functioning of the open space; ii. it would be appropriate in scale and it would not detract from the character of the site or surroundings; iii. it would not have an unacceptable negative impact upon residential amenity; iv. it would not be detrimental to any other function that the open space performs; and v. it would contribute positively to the setting and quality of the open space. 4. Residential development will be subject to the thresholds for open space provision set out in Table 2 and will be required to contribute to the provision of new open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, enhancements to existing open space and maintenance to meet the council's open space standards for new development, as set out in Table 3, and the council's priorities, as set out in the Open Space Assessment, Plan for Playing Pitches and Plan for Built Facilities. 5. Open space, sports and recreational buildings created as part of a development will be required to: i. be of an appropriate size and quality; ii. be accessible to the public; iii. be designed to be safe, useable and integrated into the development; iv. maximise its multifunctional benefits; v. take opportunities to improve the connectivity and accessibility of the Strategic Green Infrastructure Network; and vi. include a suitable long-term management and maintenance programme. 6. Communal food growing opportunities within major residential developments will be encouraged.

Conservation of Heritage Assets

1. The alteration, extension, restoration or development of heritage assets must sustain, conserve and, where appropriate, enhance their significance, appearance, character and setting. Proposals will be required to: i. be accompanied by a detailed analysis and justification of potential impact of the development on the heritage asset and its context; ii. conserve built fabric and architectural detailing that contributes to the heritage asset's significance and character; and iii. ensure that extensions or alterations to heritage assets are appropriate in scale, mass, footprint, materials and architectural detailing and reflect the significance of the heritage asset. 2. Development must ensure that the significance of a conservation area and registered park and garden is preserved or enhanced, including retention of historically important features. 3. The demolition of an unlisted building in a conservation area will only be allowed if: i. the building is of limited merit and makes little or no contribution to the character or appearance of the conservation area; and ii. any replacement development or new use would contribute to the conservation or enhancement of the character or appearance of the conservation area; and a contract for the approved replacement development has been let.

Conservation and Enhancement of the Setting of Heritage Assets

Development proposals which impact on the setting of heritage assets will be required to: 1. Ensure that its design, location, siting, form and appearance conserves or enhances the significance of the heritage asset, its setting and surrounding key views. 2. Consider any additional impacts on the setting of heritage assets, including the degree of permanence of any impact.

Preservation of Archaeological Remains and Archaeological Work

1. Development will be required to safeguard the understanding of the historic environment of the city through undertaking archaeological investigations where proposed development may affect a known site or potential area of archaeological remains. 2. Where assessment and evaluation have established that proposed development will adversely affect a site or area of archaeological interest the developer will be required, where justified, to preserve the remains in-situ. Where preservation in-situ is not justified the archaeological remains below ground and on the surface will be recorded and excavated prior to development commencing. 3. The Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage Site will be protected and sustained. To achieve this, development will be required to protect, maintain and enhance the integrity and understanding of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire World Heritage site, and its setting. 4. The results of archaeological investigations must be deposited with the Tyne and Wear Historic Environment Record and Tyne and Wear Archives. Any significant archaeological findings will also be published.

Building Recording

Prior to the demolition, alteration, extension or restoration of heritage assets (both designated and non-designated) appropriate building recording relevant to the asset's significance and the scope of works will be undertaken and the results deposited with the Tyne and Wear Historic Environment Record and Tyne and Wear Archives.

Battlefield of Newburn Ford 1640

The significance of the Battlefield of Newburn Ford will be protected, sustained and enhanced by: 1. Protecting it against development which adversely affects the interpretation of the course of events during the battle. 2. Requiring development to enhance the appearance of the Battlefield through careful design of landscaping, use of materials, and provision of public access and interpretation.

Specialist Housing

Specialist accommodation should be developed in suitable and sustainable locations, integrated within the community and within easy access to services to promote independent living. Currently specialist accommodation will be expected to conform to the appropriate standards set out within the Building Regulations (as amended 2015) relating to Accessible and Adaptable Dwellings Category M4(2) or Wheelchair User Dwellings M4(3) and in the future specialist accommodation will be expected to comply with the relevant government standards. These requirements are in addition to those set out in Policy DM6 relating to Accessible and Adaptable standards.

Campus for Ageing and Vitality (CAV) Site

The Campus for Ageing and Vitality (CAV) site, identified on the Policies Map, is allocated for mixed-use. The principal uses will include, Retail (A1), Business Uses (B1) and Residential Institutions (C2), Dwellinghouses (C3) and Non-residential Institutions (D1). 1. Development on the CAV site will be required to: i. masterplan the site to demonstrate a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach to the site's redevelopment; ii. provide high quality sustainable design and scale and massing appropriate to the character of the area; iii. sustain, conserve and enhance the significance, appearance, character and setting of heritage assets; iv. investigate, preserve and promote the significance and understanding of the Frontiers of the Roman Empire - Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site; v. maintain public access through the site through the provision of pedestrian and cycle links between Nuns Moor Road and Westgate Road, Wingrove Road and Brighton Grove; vi. protect and enhance important trees and landscape features; and vii. provide a foul and surface water drainage strategy. 2. Retail use must not exceed 1,300 square metres (net) of convenience goods floorspace and must provide an active frontage onto Westgate Road.

Housing Sites

The housing sites listed in the table below and identified on the Policies Map are allocated for residential development providing approximately 4,200 new homes and a range and choice of accommodation: 1. Former Stack Public House and land to the west, Walker - 0.91 Ha - 28 dwellings 2. Lamb Street, Walker - 1.06 Ha - 30 dwellings 3. Site of 1243-1293 Walker Road, Walker - 0.49 Ha - 20 dwellings 4. Land at 1450-1560 Walker Road, Walker - 0.26 Ha - 10 dwellings 5. Land at Caldbeck Avenue, Walker - 4.13 Ha - 176 dwellings 6. Land at 262-314 Church Street, Walker - 0.36 Ha - 19 dwellings 7. Site of former Wharrier Street Primary School, Walker - 1.17 Ha - 45 dwellings 8. Land at Sandwich Street / Walker Road, Walker - 0.42 Ha - 14 dwellings 9. Land at Pottery Bank, Walker - 2.45 Ha - 73 dwellings 10. Land east of Pottery Bank, Walker - 1.12 Ha - 43 dwellings 11. Former Belmont Street Church, Walker - 0.27 Ha - 10 dwellings 12. Land to the east of Matthew Bank, South Gosforth - 2.27 Ha - 52 dwellings 13. Land to the south of Ayton Street, Byker - 0.24 Ha - 10 dwellings 14. Site of former Gas Holder to East of Pottery Bank, Walker - 1.55 Ha - 60 dwellings 15. Land to the south of Brunton Lane (Cell D), Newcastle Great Park, Castle - 28.00 Ha - 600 dwellings 16. Land to west of Coach Lane, Manor Park - 4.89 Ha - 181 dwellings

Accessible and Adaptable Housing

The design of new build homes will be required to be flexible and adaptable for the future to meet the needs of the population. This will be achieved by requiring new housing developments of 10 dwellings or more to provide 25% of all new homes to be built to Accessible and Adaptable Standard (Building Regulation M4(2)). Accessible and Adaptable Standard is defined as homes in Use Class C3 (dwellinghouses) built to be resilient and flexible for the future needs of the city. This will include homes built to accessible and adaptable standards suitable for future adaptation to meet the forecast needs for the elderly and the changing needs of residents. Currently the relevant accessible and adaptable standard is M4(2) of the building regulations. In future the specific measures incorporated into schemes will need to demonstrate compliance with the relevant government standards for accessible and adaptable homes at that time.

Space Standards

The design of all new homes will be required to meet the Nationally Described Space Standards.

Specialist Residential Accommodation

All development providing specialist residential accommodation will be required to be: 1. Located within an existing community and to deliver a mix of housing within that community. 2. Easily accessible to existing local services and facilities, including local health care services. 3. Designed to Accessible and Adaptable Standard (Building Regulation M4(2)) and/or Wheelchair User Standard (Building Regulation M4(3)). Specialist Residential Accommodation is defined as Class C3 (Dwellinghouses) and C2 (Residential Institutions) which provides specially designed homes for people with specific needs, including assisted living accommodation for people over 55 years old, retirement and sheltered apartments and housing where care is provided. General needs bungalows and student accommodation are excluded from this definition.

Recycling and Refuse Storage Provision

The location and appearance of refuse storage and recycling provision will be required to be an integral part of the development and demonstrate high-quality design of waste facilities. Refuse storage and recycling provision will be required to provide: i. the necessary capacity needed by the development and which can be adequately accessed so that waste can be serviced by refuse collection vehicles; ii. for non-residential developments, shared housing and major flatted development, shared recycling facilities and refuse bins of sufficient capacity to serve the proposed development; iii. for other residential development, space for the storage of individual recycling and refuse bins to reflect the current collection regime and communal recycling facilities and refuse bins of the required capacity to serve the proposed development as a whole; and iv. for residential properties with private gardens provision for the separate storage of garden waste for collection or composting.

Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure

1. Development for new or upgraded telecommunications infrastructure will be required to demonstrate that: i. the installation(s) will be kept to a minimum, consistent with the efficient operation of the network; ii. the site is the most sustainable option with all alternatives explored (including opportunities for the sharing or clustering of facilities and siting masts on existing buildings); iii. there will be no significant impact on visual and residential amenity, and the character of any building, structure or wider area; and iv. there will be no significant and irremediable interference with electrical equipment, air traffic services or instrumentation in the national interest. 2. Major development will be required to demonstrate how it supplies digital infrastructure to access electronic communications networks within the site boundary.

Aircraft Safety

1. Development that would have an unacceptable impact on the operational integrity or safety of Newcastle International Airport in the aerodrome safeguarded area will not be permitted unless appropriate mitigation is secured. 2. Development resulting in an increase in the number of people residing, working or congregating in the public safety zones at each end of the airport runway will not normally be permitted.

Area of Search

Dewley Hill site is designated on the Policies Map as an Area of Search for the extraction of coal and other secondary minerals. The acceptability of working this search area will be assessed in line with National and Local Plan Policy.

Green Belt Development

1. Within the Woolsington Village Envelope Green Belt, as defined on the Policies Map, limited extensions to buildings, infill development and replacement of buildings will only be allowed where it meets national policy requirements for the Green Belt; and i. it retains the verdant, spacious character and amenity of the village; ii. it retains and takes opportunities to enhance tree and landscape features on the site. 2. Within the Green Belt the re-use of buildings will only be allowed where: i. the positive character of buildings and their setting is retained; ii. the buildings are in a good structural condition and capable of conversion without substantial re-building; iii. there are no disproportionate extensions over and above the size of the original building; iv. there are no ancillary new buildings; and v. the existing historic features of the building are retained and any repairs respect its significance and historic character.

District and Local Centres

Existing and emerging District and Local centres are designated on the Policies Map. 1. Within existing centres, development of non-retail uses (outside Use Class A1 - shops) at ground floor will only be acceptable where they would: i. maintain and enhance the vitality and viability of the centre. ii. not dominate or fragment the centre either individually or cumulatively. iii. maintain an active ground floor frontage. 2. Within emerging centres, development will be expected to be retail led and act as a focal point for shops, services and facilities to support the surrounding population.

District and Local Centres

Existing and emerging District and Local centres are designated on the Policies Map. 1. Within existing centres, development of non-retail uses (outside Use Class A1 - shops) at ground floor will only be acceptable where they would: i. maintain and enhance the vitality and viability of the centre. ii. not dominate or fragment the centre either individually or cumulatively. iii. maintain an active ground floor frontage. 2. Within emerging centres, development will be expected to be retail led and act as a focal point for shops, services and facilities to support the surrounding population. This will be achieved by: i. protecting the vitality and viability of the emerging centre by delivering a range and balance of retail and supporting uses which are appropriate in scale. ii. ensuring that development provides active ground floor frontage, where appropriate.

Retail and Leisure Impact Assessment

An Impact Assessment proportionate to the scale and nature of a proposal will be required for: 1. Retail proposals (Class A1, A2, A3, A4, A5) of 500 square metres (net) floorspace or more outside of designated centres in the retail hierarchy. 2. Leisure proposals (Class D2) of 500 square metres (net) or more outside of the Urban Core, District and Local Centres. Retail and leisure development must not have an unacceptable adverse impact on the vitality and viability of designated centres.

Pedestrian and Cycle Movement

Development will be required to: 1. Provide safe, convenient, attractive and continuous pedestrian and cycle links to key local facilities and services. 2. Provide connections through developments both to the existing and future wider pedestrian and cycle network. 3. Demonstrate that major developments are within acceptable walking and cycling distances of key local facilities and services.

Public Transport

1. Major development will be required to promote and facilitate the use of public transport and demonstrate accessibility by public transport to the Urban Core and other key local facilities. 2. Callerton Parkway, Newcastle Great Park, Kingston Park and Regent Centre are designated on the Policies Map as park and ride facilities. The designated Callerton Parkway site has potential to accommodate up to 600 park and ride parking spaces.

Parking and Servicing

Development will be required to provide: 1. Safe, secure and useable vehicle and cycle parking that satisfies its operational requirements and is generally in accordance with the parking levels set out in Appendix 6. 2. Employee changing and shower facilities for major non-residential developments. 3. Adequate drop-off and collection, servicing and loading facilities.

Road Hierarchy

The following hierarchy of roads are designated on the Policies Map in order to support the management of movement on the highway network and to ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods. 1. Strategic Road 2. Primary Distributor Road 3. Secondary Distributor Road 4. Public Transport Distributor Road Development must ensure that proposals are in accordance with the road hierarchy definitions as set out in Appendix 2.

Mitigation and Highway Management

1. Development will be required to adequately mitigate against its impact on the highway network in the interests of safety, efficiency and accessibility. 2. Development involving works to the public highway will be required to be undertaken in accordance with the standards of the highway authority. 3. Development creating new public highway to be adopted by the council will be required to be constructed in accordance with the standards of the highway authority.