Agenda item

To seek approval toformal consultation on the draft updated Transport and Highways Supplementary Planning Document.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to the formal consultation of the draft updated Transport and Highways Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

Supplementary Planning Documents build upon and provide more detailed advice or guidance on the policies in the Local Plan. The purpose of the Supplementary Planning Document on Transport and Highways (“the SPD”) was to provide direction and guidance for prospective developers so as to ensure that the transport implications of new developments were rigorously, and consistently, assessed and appropriate mitigation measures secured.

The current SPD, previously also referred to as Local Development Document LDD12, was last revised in 2017.  The revised and updated draft SPD at Appendix 1 had been prepared with a clear eye on the national, regional and local policy context, which had substantially developed since the SPD was last revised.

At national level, in 2020 the Government introduced an updated set of use classes, or categories of development used in the planning system, which replaced the previous use classes referred to in the current SPD; and in 2021 the National Planning Policy Framework, which sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how these were expected to be applied, was also revised. At regional level, the North East Transport Plan was approved by the Joint Transport Committee in March 2021.

The Authority declared a climate emergency in 2019 and the ‘Our North Tyneside Plan 2021 to 2025’ commits to publishing an action plan of the steps the Authority would take and the national investment it would seek to make North Tyneside carbon net-zero by 2030. The North Tyneside Transport Strategy, updated in 2021, placed an emphasis in its objectives on progressing towards achieving carbon net zero and, as part of this, securing increased provision for more sustainable modes of transport. The North Tyneside Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) Strategy, approved by Cabinet in November 2021, included a commitment to update the SPD and its requirements in relation to electric vehicle (EV) charging and associated measures.

As part of the review of the SPD, details of car parking and cycle parking standards had been reviewed and realigned to the new use classes.  Focus had also been given to sustainable transport and additional detail provided on the provision of infrastructure for EVs. The revisions to the document had sought to ensure that the revised SPD would support development that was sustainable, made efficient use of land and resources and demonstrated good design, in accordance with relevant policy at national, regional and local level.

It was intended that the revised SPD, once finalised, would continue to offer effective direction and guidance to prospective developers and applicants in the borough, in accordance with the Local Plan and the North Tyneside Transport Strategy.

The revised draft SPD first covered sustainable transport, setting out specific requirements in relation to walking, wheeling, cycling, Public Rights of Way and public transport provision.  It then sets out the Authority’s requirements for the assessment of transport for new developments. This included details of a Travel Plan, which developers may be required to prepare to support accessibility by more sustainable modes; Transport Assessments and Transport Statements, which served to demonstrate that the transport impacts of new developments had been appropriately assessed; and parking control measures as they related to new developments.

The document proceeds to set out the Authority’s specifications with regard to design quality, including links to its approach to tree planting and management; and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) in new developments, including requirements on developers to carry out a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA).

The document then sets out requirements in relation to parking provision at both residential and non-residential developments, including enhanced detail of required arrangements regarding the provision of EV charging equipment and/or cable routes which facilitated the future installation of such equipment.

It was anticipated that, subject to the recommendation being approved, stakeholder engagement would be carried out in May-June 2022 over a six-week period. It was proposed that the engagement would be open to any person who wished to respond; however, owing to the technical nature of the document, the engagement process would particularly seek to involve stakeholders such as developers, local and national voluntary sector organisations in the transport sector, neighbouring local authorities, Nexus, and Transport North East.

Cabinet considered the following decision options: to accept the recommendations set out in paragraph 1.2 of the report, or alternatively, to not approve the recommendations.

Resolved that (1) a process of stakeholder engagement be carried out on the revised draft Supplementary Planning Document attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be approved;

(2)  the Director of Environment, Housing and Leisure, be authorised to undertake all

necessary steps in relation to undertaking the stakeholder engagement on the Supplementary Planning Document; and

(3)  the Director of Environment, Housing and Leisure present a further report to Cabinet

at the end of the engagement process for Cabinet’s approval of the Supplementary Planning Document prior to its publication, having regard to any stakeholder comments made during the engagement process.

(Reason for decision:  Approval for the stakeholder engagement will allow the views of stakeholders to be considered as the updated SPD is finalised.)