Neighbourhood Plan – Policies

The final version of the Neighbourhood Plan has now been published, the graphics below list the policies which have been included in the plan.

VISION

The vision sets out what the East Boldon Neighbourhood Plan intends to achieve over the plan period to 2036.  It informs all of the draft policies and community actions contained within this pre-submission plan.

OBJECTIVES

To deliver the vision, eight objectives have been developed.  These objectives clearly relate to the issues identified through early engagement with the local community and other stakeholders.  The early engagement endorsed the objectives and the mission of the plan to protect and enhance the special nature of the village now and for future generations. Each policy is shown in relation to its main objective.

Objective 1: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Objective 1 is to ensure new development makes a positive contribution to social, environmental or economic needs and that any negative impacts, particularly those contributing to climate change, are adequately mitigated.

The National Planning Policy Framework (abbreviated to NPPF) explains that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.  It highlights three overarching objectives, economic, social and environmental, which are interdependent and need to be pursued in mutually supportive ways.  The NPPF therefore includes a presumption in favour of sustainable development. 

Objective 2: DESIGN

Objective 2 seeks to ensure all new development makes a positive contribution to a safe and well-designed built environment and that it respects the historic environment of the area. 

The built and historic environment of the plan area are vital to its character and the quality of life of residents.  The importance of this has been fed back strongly by the local community through early engagement.   

Objective 3: NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Objective 3 – Plan positively for the creation, protection and enhancement of networks of biodiversity and green infrastructure in the neighbourhood plan area including ensuring that there are linkages to wider green infrastructure networks.

The residents of the plan area benefit from a rich natural environment, especially around the Boldon Pastures Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which is a lowland wetland with important wildlife corridors around the site.  The SSSI and the Boldon Flats Local Wildlife Site are unique in the area.  They contribute to the character of the local area, which is of great importance to the local community and the global natural environment by providing resting and feeding space for migratory populations of birds.  There are four other local wildlife sites in the plan area at Low House Copse, Tilesheads Burn, Black Plantation and Turner’s Hill. 

Objective 4: LOCAL ECONOMY

Objective 4 seeks to support the sustainable creation and protection of employment opportunities in East Boldon as well as protecting the vitality of the village and local centre.

National policy requires significant weight to be placed on the need to support economic growth and productivity.  Whilst housing accounts for the majority of the land use of the plan area, the economy is an essential element and important to the local community. 

Objective 5: HOUSING

Objective 5 seeks to create and maintain a balanced and sustainable community by providing a positive framework that recognises the different types of homes that all current and future residents of the plan area need.

The NPPF highlights the government’s objective of significantly boosting the supply of homes.  Neighbourhood plans have an important role in supporting the delivery of the number, type and mix of homes that are required in the area. 

Objective 6: COMMUNITY WELLBEING

Objective 6 – Contribute to community wellbeing by ensuring that the neighbourhood plan area’s community, especially its older and younger people, have access to the services and facilities they need.

The NPPF identifies that the planning system has an important role to play in creating healthy, inclusive communities.  NPPG defines a healthy community as a good place to grow up and grow old in, a community which supports healthy behaviours and supports reductions in health inequalities. It should enhance the physical and mental health of the community and where appropriate encourage active healthy lifestyles and healthy living environments for all.

Objective 7: FLOODING AND SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE

Objective 7 – To reduce the causes and risks of flooding in the neighbourhood plan area.

There are no specific policies under this objective but comments raised have been addressed elsewhere. In particular, EB1, EB11 and EB13 contain measures to address climate change and flood risk.

Objective 8: TRANSPORT AND MOVEMENT

Objective 8 – Manage the transport network of the neighbourhood plan area to be safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly for all users, while ensuring adequate parking is available to meet the needs of residents, visitors and businesses.

The NPPF encourages a reduction in congestion and greenhouse gas emissions through the introduction of measures which promote a decrease in the number of journeys made by car. Whilst the preparation of transport policy at a local level is primarily a matter for the local planning authority, there are a wide range of areas where the plan can have an influence on accessibility including supporting the protection and enhancement of active travel routes and accessibility in new development.