Have your say on planning policy
Call for Sites
We are carrying out a Call for Sites from 26 August to 23 October 2022.
This is an opportunity for anyone (including residents, landowners, agents, and developers) to tell us your views on the future use of land and buildings in the Borough. Where sites may no longer be required for their current use and could become available for development or redevelopment, we would like you to tell us.
This process will ensure that we have up-to-date evidence of the availability and potential development sites across the borough.
An online digital portal has been developed to help deliver an easier, more efficient and transparent service for landowners and communities which allows users to submit proposed sites and supporting information directly in the portal.
With regard to land in the Green Belt, we currently consider there to be no exceptional circumstances that would justify taking land out of the Green Belt to accommodate housing or commercial uses. Therefore, greenfield Green Belt sites will not be considered for housing or for other uses not in line with national Green Belt policy. However, brownfield sites within the existing Green Belt can be put forward, whilst some uses (such as some leisure uses) could take place in the Green Belt without being considered inappropriate development, and can therefore be submitted.
We are looking for sites for a wide range of uses. For more information or to submit a site please visit the Call for Sites portal.
Sites can be submitted during the 8 week period 26 August to 23 October 2022.
For more information, please contact Chris Carr by phone on 0191 433 3415.
What happens next
All relevant sites submitted will be assessed for their suitability, availability and achievability, in accordance with Planning Practice guidance. The assessment of suitability will consider constraints that may prevent or limit development. The assessment of availability will consider whether there are legal or ownership issues that may prevent a site's development. The assessment of achievability will consider whether development of the site could be economically viable.
The results of the Call for Sites will be set out in a Consultation Report.
Biodiversity SPD: Scoping Report
Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland Councils are working together to prepare a Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Document.
The Scoping Report, prepared by Gateshead and South Tyneside Councils, represents the first stage in the process of developing an SPD and will provide feedback on what should be included in the SPD. The Biodiversity SPD Scoping Report sets out options regarding the potential scope of the SPD, including; biodiversity information and impact assessments required to support planning proposals, biodiversity net gains and the Defra metric, the importance of existing nature conservation features, wildlife corridors, Environment Act requirements, and monitoring, management and maintenance of ecological mitigation.
Comments from residents of both Gateshead and South Tyneside are welcome on the Scoping Report.
Consultation on the Biodiversity SPD: Scoping Report has now ended. We are reviewing your comments and will publish a Consultation Report setting out the Councils' response.
Exemplar Neighbourhood Masterplan and SPD
The Exemplar Neighbourhood is a major redevelopment proposal close to Gateshead town centre. The Exemplar Neighbourhood Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was first adopted in 2013 and set out development principles for residential led development to ensure high quality design and encourage innovation in the exemplar neighbourhood area.
An update of the Exemplar Neighbourhood Masterplan and SPD is required following the adoption of Making Spaces for Growing Places in February 2021, which resulted in the related deletion of policies from the Unitary Development Plan. Work to refresh and update this document has been carried out by consultants IDPartnership.
Consultation on the Exemplar Neighbourhood Masterplan and SPD was carried out over six weeks in Spring 2022. Representations were received by a number of consultees on the document, and a summary of these comments can be found in the consultation report. Minor amendments have been made to the SPD as a result of consultation and these are also set out in the consultation report.
The Exemplar Neighbourhood Masterplan and SPD is now being published for comment for a period of 6 weeks where comments can be made on the document. Comments should be submitted by 28 August 2022.
The SPDs can be viewed on the Council website at or by prior appointment at the Civic Centre as detailed below. Comments should be made in writing to ldf@gateshead.gov.uk or to the address below.
Documents can be viewed at:
Gateshead Council, Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead, NE8 1HH
(Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 4.30pm)
To view a paper version of the documents at the Civic Centre an appointment must be made due to social distancing requirements. To make an appointment to view the documents please 01914333415 or email ldf@gateshead.gov.uk.
If you have any queries please email us at ldf@gateshead.gov.uk
Biodiversity SPD: Scoping Report (PDF) [1MB]
Exemplar Neighbourhood Masterplan and SPD (PDF) [18MB]
Consultation Report: Exemplar Neighbourhood Masterplan and SPD (PDF) [650KB]