- Nation
- England
- National planning policy
- NPPF
- Planning authorities
- 5
- City
- Newcastle upon Tyne
Getting it right in Tyne and Wear
Neighbouring gardens in Tyne and Wear sometimes make a stronger scheme together than apart. One plot may have a drive but little depth; the next may have depth but no way in. A feasibility study can test a combined layout with one shared access, as well as each garden on its own, so the owners can compare the outcomes before anyone agrees anything. Where several owners are involved, a collaboration agreement usually comes next.
Planning authorities covering Tyne and Wear include Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, South Tyneside Council, Sunderland City Council.
How it works
Free plot appraisal
A desktop look at your plot, access, title plan and the planning picture, plus a conversation about what you want. If it looks viable we visit. There’s no cost and no obligation at this stage.
Scope and written quote
If you want to go further, we set out which surveys and checks your plot needs and what they will cost, in writing. Nothing is commissioned until you have agreed the scope and the price.
Survey and constraints check
A measured survey of the plot and its surroundings, then a check of the title, services, trees, flood risk and heritage designations, so the design starts from facts rather than guesses.
Access and capacity study
We test each workable route in and the number, size and position of homes the plot could hold, against separation distances, garden space, parking, bins and daylight for neighbours.
Concept designs and pre-application
Sketch layouts and simple elevations for the strongest options. Where it will help, we take one to the council for pre-application advice before anything is submitted.
Feasibility report and options
A clear yes, no or maybe, the reasons behind it, and the routes open to you: apply for planning, build, sell or partner. You decide what happens next, with no obligation to use us for it.
Feasibility and design in towns across Tyne and Wear
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Sunderland
- South Shields
- Gateshead
- Washington
- Wallsend
- North Shields
- Whitley Bay
- Houghton-le-Spring
- Jarrow
- Hebburn
- Tynemouth
- Whickham
- Blaydon-on-Tyne
Questions about feasibility and design in Tyne and Wear
Which councils decide garden schemes in Tyne and Wear?
The local planning authority for your address decides. In this area that includes Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council. Each applies the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) alongside its own Local Plan and design guidance, so the tests for a garden scheme can differ from one council to the next. We check the policies that apply to your plot.
How long does feasibility take for a plot in Tyne and Wear?
Often a few weeks, sometimes a couple of months. It depends on surveyor availability, whether title documents or specialist surveys are needed, and how long the council takes to respond if you ask for pre-application advice. Some ecology surveys can only be done at certain times of year.
What happens after a feasibility study in Tyne and Wear?
You choose. With a clear yes or a promising maybe, you might apply for planning, build a home on the plot, or sell or partner on it. With a no, you have the reasons and the evidence. Whichever way you go, the report, survey and concept designs remain yours to use.
Which council decides planning for a garden plot in Tyne and Wear?
The council for your address decides. The planning authorities covering Tyne and Wear include Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council. Each judges applications against its own Local Plan and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), together with its design guidance. We prepare and submit the application and deal with the council’s questions, but the decision is always the council’s, never ours.