Major update on crime-busting plans for South Shields' historic South Pier

South Tyneside Council’s planning department has approved a number of planning applications for the Grade II-listed South Pier from applicant the Port of Tyne.

The plans, submitted in December 2025, were seeking permission for the “installation of a new gated access system” at the South Pier and listed building consent for the installation, described in planning documents as “proposed secondary gates.”

A location plan noted the gates were being proposed halfway along the pier while a covering letter submitted on behalf of the Port of Tyne noted the reasons for the proposed installation.

This included “preventing public access to the head of the pier where waves can overtop the pier wall and lighthouse during adverse weather conditions”, as well as preventing vandalism.

It was noted that the “lighthouse and pier head had been regularly vandalised through the illegal access”, with examples of “starting fires on the pavement near the lighthouse damaging the pavement and the stone wall” and lighthouse windows being damaged.

Applicants said that “the existing gates to the west near the base of the pier will be retained and will not be removed as a result of the proposed development” and that it is intended that “these gates will be closed when the weather is poor.”

The Port of Tyne also said that the need for the new gates “reflects the more recent application for the CCTV [at the pier] which was approved by South Tyneside Council on August 5, 2025.

It was noted that as “a consequence of climate change the frequency of large waves overtopping the piers is becoming more common and it is important to ensure the public observe the fact the piers are shut in such conditions”.

The proposed height of the gate is three metres and will feature “anti-climb cacti whilst utilising existing holdings in the pier with one new post”, planning documents state, and those behind the scheme added the proposals would “not harm the significance of the Grade II-listed South Pier” and would “result in a betterment to the area from a social perspective.”

During a council public consultation exercise on the proposal for a “secondary gated access” on the pier, four representations were submitted objecting to the “loss of public access.”

Council planners, responding in a report, said information submitted with the application indicated that “the applicant would only close the gates during extreme weather events, whereby there is a risk to the public from waves which can exceed the height of the pier”.

It was also noted that the “purpose of the second gates is to provide more regular safe access to the pier and will allow the existing gates at the base of the pier to remain open more of the time” and that “overall access to the pier during normal weather conditions would not be impacted as a result of the development.”

There were also nine public objections on the listed building consent application raising concerns about the loss of public access to the pier, “heritage harm as a result of loss of public access” and more.

After considering the planning applications for the pier, South Tyneside Council’s planning department approved the plans on March 4, 2026.

Comments from the council’s historic environment officer, set out in a council decision report, said the proposal would “lead to some harm to the heritage asset in terms of one additional fitting, albeit this would be on the lower end of less than substantial harm”.

It was noted that the “balance between heritage harm and public benefit is a critical consideration in assessing development proposals” and that “public benefit encompasses the economic, social, cultural and environmental advantages that a development proposal is expected to bring”.

In this context, council heritage officers said the applicant had provided a “clear justification for the proposed development.”

Council planners, in a decision report, said that given the “existence of the existing gates along the pier, and historical evidence of further gates in a similar location to the new gates proposed under this application, it is considered that the proposed development would not result in significant loss of public access to the pier”.

The council decision report adds: “It is considered that the proposal would result in no significant harm with respect of design and visual impact, impact on heritage assets, archaeology, amenity, ecology and flooding.

“As a result, it is considered that the proposed development complies with all relevant local and national planning policy and guidance [and] consequently, this application is recommended for approval.”

A report linked to the listed building consent application also noted that “the proposal would result in less than substantial harm to heritage assets but that such harm is outweighed by public benefits”.

In response to public comments about the ownership of the site, council planners added that “listed building consent would be granted to the land and this continues with the land rather than the applicant.”

Under planning conditions, the development must be brought forward within three years.

For more information on the plans and council decision, visit South Tyneside Council’s planning portal website and search reference numbers 250677 and 250676.