session 1

session 1

• Background of project and recap• Designing for Ouseburn – what we are offering• Outline of forthcoming sessions• Designing for Ouseburn – an approach to assessing and

commenting on schemes

Break for food

• The development process and consultation• Neighbourhood Forums

• Opportunities and Next steps Written for the Designing Ouseburn’s Future project 2012 www.northernarchitecture.com

Background and recap

• Too many groups or committees• No going over old ground• Action not words• Relationship to existing strategies• Relationship to NCC• Complex and contentious issues• Differences of opinion

www.northernarchitecture.com

What are we proposing?• Information, training and support to help understand and

critically assess planning proposals on the basis of design quality (through these sessions and web resources)

• A bespoke Designing for Ouseburn handbook and assessment criteria within a structured process that facilitates critical assessment, referencing existing policies and key issues

• Exploring the opportunities and options beyond this (which we’ll explain more about later)


Outline of sessionsSession 1

Introduction, Designing for Ouseburn Handbook and criteria, the development process, neighbourhood forums, thoughts for beyond – questions to revisit in session 3

Session 2 The role of design quality, principles of good design, what are the criteria? (general and Ouseburn-specific)

Session 3 Engaging with the planning process and how it works (NCC), assessing a proposal, discussing opportunities (Igloo) and ‘to group or not to group’


Aims of the handbook and criteria

• The handbook provides the background and context. The criteria provides a set of questions to help evaluate any proposal that you want to assess

• Focuses on accepted principles of good design and place-making• Provides a practical, working, clear way of methodically assessing

proposals and creating feedback• Based on Building for Life, a tried and tested assessment mechanism and

one that local authorities are familiar with• Draws on general principles as well as existing policy and planning

guidance relevant to the Ouseburn and other relevant key issues (plenty of scope for input)

• Draws out only planning issues that will be taken into consideration at pre-planning consultation and planning committee stages

• Stands up to being used on an individual or group basis and is adaptable to policy change


Draft Criteria

Regeneration Strategy for Lower O

useburn Valley January 2003

Lower O

useburn Valley Conservation Area Character Statement Septem

ber 2004

Lower O

useburn Valley Conservation Area Managem

ent Plan September 2004

Ouseburn Valley U

rban Design Fram

ework SPD

Novem

ber 2005

1Plan: An Economic and Spatial Strategy for N

ewcastleG

ateshead, 1NG

, June 2010

New

castleGateshead O

ne Core Strategy 2030, Gateshead Council and N

ewcastle City Council D

raft Septem

ber 2011

New

castleGateshead U

rban Core Area Action Plan, Gateshead Council and N


raft Septem

ber 2011

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION Q15 Is the design specific to the scheme? Q16 Does the buildings and spaces outperform statutory minima?

Q17Has the development made use of advances in construction or technology that enhance its performance and attractiveness?

Q18 Do the internal spaces allow for flexibility and adaptation?

Q19Does the architectural detailing use a limited palate of materials consistent with the character of Ouseburn?

Q20 Does the scheme take any measures to minimise noise impact?


Draft Criteria



Lower O


ber 2004

Lower O



Ouseburn Valley U

rban Design Fram

ework SPD

Novem

ber 2005


ewcastleG

ateshead, 1NG

, June 2010

New

castleGateshead O



raft Septem

ber 2011

New

castleGateshead U



raft Septem

ber 2011

CHARACTER

Q1 Does the scale and height of the development fit with and exploit the exiting topography of the Ouseburn?

Q2

Regardless of style, does the development complement, enhance and respond to the existing heritage buildings and buildings with architectural merit?

Q3 Is the development footprint appropriate for the Ouseburn?

Q4Does the development respect or enhance a legible and publicly accessible river frontage?

Q5Does the development help define the street with a well structured layout?

Q6Does the use complement and add to the character of its surroundings?


Draft Criteria



Lower O


ber 2004

Lower O



Ouseburn Valley U

rban Design Fram

ework SPD

Novem

ber 2005


ewcastleG

ateshead, 1NG

, June 2010

New

castleGateshead O



raft Septem

ber 2011

New

castleGateshead U



raft Septem

ber 2011

ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT & COMMUNITYQ7 Does the development help to provide a suitable variety of uses?

Q8Does the development contribute to activity and vibrancy at street level?

Q9

Does the development have any features to that reduce its environmental impact? [Such as use of materials that are recovered, recycles, renewable and/or have low embodies energy and maximising south facing elevations]

Q10

Does the development encourage active lifestyles, maximise social interaction and improve access to community facilities, amenities and services for all ages?

Q11Does the development respect and strengthen the wildlife corridor linking the river Tyne to Heaton Park and Jesmond Dene?


Draft Criteria



Lower O


ber 2004

Lower O



Ouseburn Valley U

rban Design Fram

ework SPD

Novem

ber 2005


ewcastleG

ateshead, 1NG

, June 2010

New

castleGateshead O



raft Septem

ber 2011

New

castleGateshead U



raft Septem

ber 2011

ROADS, PARKING AND PEDESTRIANSATION

Q12Does the size and location of development plots respond to and strengthen key pedestrian routes and gateways?

Q13Does the development minimise levels of on-site and operational car parking, encouraging the use of public transport?

Q14Does the public realm and creative use of lighting reinforce pedestrian routes and strategic connections?


Points to note•As outlined here, this approach will mainly allow being responsive rather than pro-active and applies to the planning application consultation stage.

•But it should provide a good platform from which to establish pre-application discussions with developers and NCC.

•Developer interest is currently low, however the key forthcoming opportunity is to engage with Igloo.


Break for food


What are Neighbourhood Forums?•Community groups that are designated to take forward neighbourhood planning in areas without Parish or Town Councils.

•An existing organisation or group of individuals can decide to establish a proposed neighbourhood forum and then approach their local authority to become officially designated as the neighbourhood forum for that area.


The basic criteria• It is established for the express purpose of promoting or improving the social, economic and environmental well-being of an area that consists of or includes the neighbourhood area concerned.

• Its membership is open to all people who live in the neighbourhood area concerned, people who work there (whether for businesses carried on there or otherwise), and elected members.

• Its membership includes a minimum of 21 people each of whom either lives or works or is an elected member.

• It has a written constitution.

• It can also have the express purpose of promotion of business interests.


Local Authority designation•The local authority can consider designating new organisations or existing organisations

•Lasts for 5 years but can be withdrawn earlier

•There can only be one Forum in an area

•The boundaries for the neighbourhood will be proposed by the community group but the council will need to agree this.

•They will also check that community groups meet the right standards. The planning authority will say “no” if, for example, the organisation is too small or not representative enough of the local community.

•It isn't first come, first served - others can propose alternatives

•If the local planning authority decides that the community group meets the right standards, the group will be able to call itself a ‘neighbourhood forum’.


How do you become a Neighbourhood Forum?Submit a statement to the local authority that:

• Names the proposed neighbourhood forum, contains its constitution and gives contact details of members

• Says why the applicant qualifies as a neighbourhood forum

• Names and sets out the area it covers

• Says why the area is suitable for neighbourhood planning


For business neighbourhoods

The Localism Act included amendments that allow businesses to play a leading role in the setting up of neighbourhood forums and the development of neighbourhood plans in certain areas. In designating such a neighbourhood, the local authority will have to decide whether it should be specifically designated as a “business neighbourhood”. Businesses, investors, developers and other commercial organisations will be able to get involved with the forums or parishes. With their agreement, businesses could sponsor the process of developing a neighbourhood plan.


Things to consider (not to be answered today!)

Do you want to be involved in setting up an Ouseburn Neighbourhood Forum? Could the Neighbourhood Forum be hosted by an existing organisation or would a new independent group be preferable? Are you interested in developing a neighbourhood plan for the area, which is one of the primary functions for a NF?


Opportunities and next steps

Sessions provide foundation for either minimum or maximum outcomes. This is for you and others beyond the room to decide.

Sessions provide platform for dialogue with Igloo about the future of key sites and with other future developers.


session 1

Documents

ouseburn handbook

planning process

design specific

planning proposals

basis of design quality

assessment criteria

role of design quality

gateshead council