Agenda item

To receive a report that seeks to note the first stage of work undertaken in relation to the Ambition for the North West and agreement to the proposed policy priorities, delivery approach and next steps.

Cabinet received a report seeking approval for delivering the first stage of the ‘An Ambition for the North West of the Borough’ and a set of policy priorities to inform the next stage.

The Our North Tyneside Plan 2021-25 gave a commitment to bring investment and improvements to the North West area of the borough and ensure that regeneration delivered ambition, opportunity and benefits for all residents.

An officer team had been working with the Deputy Mayor to better understand the opportunities and challenges in the North West following the ‘Big Community Conversation’ held in the Summer of 2022. This had included reviewing the feedback from resident engagement but had also included further engagement with Ward members in May 2023. The officer team also engaged with partners such as Transport North East to help frame the Authority’s work and future investment in the North West.

The report provided background and a summary of the work done so far and suggested a set of policy priorities and next steps.  It was proposed that a series of plans were prepared for the North West of the borough. These would include an over-arching Transport Plan as well as Village Plans.

The Transport Plan: This would provide an overarching plan for travelling in and around the North West of the borough as well as addressing routes to the urban core and facilities such as healthcare as well as education and employment. The plan would encompass all modes with emphasis on the following:

·        Bus provision – how services were provided, and did they go to the right places at the right time? This would also include frequency of services and would look at routing options. For example, this could include routes from the North West to Rake Lane / North Tyneside General Hospital via Quorum Business Park, Four Lane Ends Interchange, Northumberland Park (for Metro and Heavy Rail links) and Cobalt Business Park.

·        Heavy Rail (East Cost main Line): It will also examine opportunities for improved Heavy Rail connectivity with a long-term aspiration for a new station of the East Coast Main Line (ECML) at Killingworth. Whilst this would require major investment in the ECML infrastructure with additional signalling as well as a new stations, unless this aspiration is identified and embedded in an agreed plan, it is unlikely to attract funding and be delivered.

·        Cycling and Walking (Active Travel): A key component of all emerging national, regional and local transport policy, this will be a central element of the Transport Plan. This will include a focus on the Wagonways as well as other routes to ensure that residents can get around the area without reliance on the intermittent public transport provision or private motor cars whilst bringing health and wellbeing benefits to users.

The Village Plans: These would be prepared for each of our settlements namely: Killingworth Village and Township; Annitsford; Dudley; Fordley; Camperdown; Burradon; Wideopen and Seaton Burn.

It was also proposed that plans were prepared for those areas in the North West that were closer to the urban core which included: Forest Hall; Westmoor; Benton; Longbenton; Palmersville and Holystone.  Where there were synergies between places it may be appropriate to group places together within a plan in order to establish a clearer understanding of our places and to set out a more compelling case for funding and investment. However, this would not dilute the Authority’s approach to ensuring that a sense of identity and uniqueness was achieved in line with the proposed policy objectives.

It was proposed that each ‘plan’ would be underpinned by an environmental audit and locality health check which would establish a baseline for each place and identify any gaps as well as opportunities. This would provide the foundation for the Village Plan which would provide a narrative and a set of proposals for each place.  Subject to the policy priorities outlined in this report being agreed, the next steps would be to prepare a programme of activity for the next 12 months which would set out how we will take forward this work.

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

Resolved that (1)the work done to date of the Ambition for the North West of the Borough, be noted;

(2) the proposed policy priorities and delivery approach as outlined in the report, be agreed; and

(3) the next steps including wider engagement and to receiving further reports as required, be agreed.

(Reason for decision: The suggested policy priorities reflect the responses received during consultation and are considered to address the key issues facing the North West and will provide a strong foundation and focus for future planned activities.)