Planning Consultant for South Tyneside Council

In March 2025, South Tyneside Council's Planning Committee refused planning permission for the development proposed in application ST/1109/21/FUL, which proposed the following:

Demolition of existing buildings and erection of 202 residential units (Use Class C3) including vehicular access from Cleadon Lane, associated infrastructure and landscaping.

Planning permission was refused, contrary to Planning Officer advice for the following reason:.

The Local Planning Authority considers that the proposed development, by virtue of the increased foul drainage discharges that it would generate into a sewerage system in respect of which regulators have raised concerns regarding non-compliance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations (UWWTR) due to excessive Combined Storm Overflow (CSO) spills to the environment, would not contribute to or enhance the natural and local environment but would conversely contribute further to currently unacceptable levels of water pollution resulting in harm to both human health and biodiversity. Accordingly, and where it cannot be assumed in these circumstances that the pollution control regime governing the handling of wastewater is operating effectively as set out in Paragraph 201 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and where such adverse impacts would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, the proposals are contrary to Paragraph 187 of the NPPF, Policies EB1, EB3, EB5 and EB7 of the East Boldon Neighbourhood Plan, Policies EA3 and EA5 of the South Tyneside LDF Core Strategy, Policy DM7 of the South Tyneside LDF Development Management Policies DPD and, Policies SP1, 1, 3, 11, SP21 and 34 of the Publication draft South Tyneside Local Plan.

In June 2025 the developer, Avant Homes, submitted an appeal (ref: APP/A4520/W/25/3367464) against the Council's decision and where they sought determination of the appeal by way of public inquiry. Following representations from both the Council and the developer's agent, the Planning Inspectorate has decided that the appeal will be determined by way of an informal hearing. The Council, therefore, requires an RTPI-accredited planning consultant to defend the Council's decision at appeal.