Blueprint for East Boldon: Vision for village's development enters final stages

The latest round of public consultation on the East Boldon Neighbourhood Plan finished on Friday, April 23, with findings now due to be submitted to a government assessor.

In its current form, the document hopes to prioritise building on brownfield sites, such as Cleadon Lane Industrial Estate, while protecting green spaces from development.

“The plan is now going to be looked at by an independent examiner,” said Dave Hutchinson, secretary of the East Boldon Neighbourhood Forum, which has been working on the neighbourhood plan.

“If there’s any major objections from the council or any other agencies or organisations, the inspector will have to consider those and whether they’re substantive enough to make any fundamental changes.”

Once approved, the neighbourhood plan would form part of the wider South Tyneside Local Plan, which sets development policy for the whole of the borough.

Town hall chiefs had hoped the local plan could be ready for government approval later this year July 2021, but this has now been pushed back.

Suggest policies in the East Boldon Neighbourhood Plan include:

:: Ensuring new properties reflect the village’s ‘diverse range of architectural styles’

:: Making sure new developments have enough parking space and bicycle storage

:: Improve access to green spaces

:: Protecting trees

Brains behind the document hope to be ready to hold a referendum later in 2021 to see it given the final seal of approval.

Visit www.eastboldonforum.org.uk to find out more about the East Boldon Neighborhood Plan.

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