Have your say and help shape the future of Newcastle. 

What do you want Newcastle to be like in the future, and how can this be achieved? Now is your chance to help us plan for this.  

We are keen to start early conversations. This will help us to prepare the Newcastle Plan.  Like all councils, we need to create a plan for our area that sets out how Newcastle will develop by 2045, considering all aspects of what will make our city an even better place to live. We want to give everyone a chance to have their say and find out what matters to our communities.  

From Wednesday 24 January until Wednesday 6 March (inclusive) we will be running a six-week engagement exercise - a citywide conversation where we are asking for feedback on a number of key themes. The responses we receive will help shape the Newcastle Plan and that will shape Newcastle.  

You can get involved online or in person. Further details below. By doing this, you can tell us your thoughts on what you think Newcastle should be like in 2045 and how we can:  

1.    Make Newcastle a healthier city. 
What steps could we take to support everyone in Newcastle to have healthier lifestyles and to improve their wellbeing?  

2.    Make Newcastle be a greener city.  
How can we help address climate change and reduce carbon e missions in Newcastle?   

3.    Make the city centre and neighbourhood centres more attractive places to shop and visit.  
What do you think is needed to improve our city and neighbourhood centres and what would make you visit them more?   

4.    Improve employment opportunities.  
Have we got the right employment sites (areas only used for businesses, factories, and other employers) in Newcastle and what opportunities should be provided for the future? 

5.    Make it easier to move around Newcastle. 
How can we support more people to actively move around Newcastle (by walking and cycling) and improve transport networks, helping to connect everyone better?  

6.    Provide high-quality leisure, culture and tourism facilities. 
Where should our leisure, cultural and tourism facilities be located, and how can we improve everyone’s access to our open spaces?  

7.    Provide homes and communities people want to live in.     
What type of housing do you think Newcastle needs and where should new houses be built? 

8.    Provide attractive and safe places in Newcastle to live, work and visit  
So we can design a better Newcastle in the future, we want to know what is most important and makes it special for you.  

9.    Protect and improve Newcastle’s natural environment  
How can we improve our natural environment including parks, woodlands, lakes and ponds and what would you like more of?   

Get involved: 

• To join in the conversation online visit https://newcastleplan.commonplace.is/

  Here you will find details of nine ambitions that we think will make Newcastle a better place by 2045. But what do you think?  You may choose to answer all or some of the questions that we’re asking for each ambition, and that’s fine. We want your views on what you see as important and matters to you. 
• Community events and drop-in sessions:                                                                                                 

At these events and drop-in sessions, you will be able to find out more information and have conversations with members of our team. You will also be able to complete the online questions and be supported to do this if you need.

Drop-in Sessions 

• Throckley Community Centre – Tuesday 6 February 2024 - 10am-12pm
• Lemington Health Resource Centre – Wednesday 7 February 2024 - 10am-12pm
• West End Library and Customer Service Centre – Monday 12 February 2024 (10am- 1pm) 
• St James and St Basil Church Cafe, Fenham - Thursday 15 February 10:30-12pm 
• Trinity Church, Gosforth – Thursday 8 February 2024 – 4.30-6.30pm
• Newcastle East End Football Club – 13 February 2024  - 1pm-4pm
• Heaton Baptist Church – Tuesday 20 February 2024 - 1pm-3pm
• St Silas Church, Byker – Monday 26 February 2024 - 1pm-3pm
• Newcastle Great Park Community Centre Thursday 29 February 3pm - 6:30pm
• Jesmond Library Friday 1 March 10am - 12:00 

Half-term Events – Grainger Market 

• Tuesday 20th February and Friday 23rd February 2024 

If you have questions about any of the information above or need it in another format (such as large print), please email us at planningpolicy@newcastle.gov.uk, or write to FREEPOST Letstalk.  

Also, remember to follow our social media channels where we will also be having these conversations: 

-    Facebook - www.facebook.com/newcastlecitycouncil 

-    X (formerly Twitter) @NewcastleCC    

-    Instagram - @newcastlecouncil 

-    Tik Tok - @newcastlecounciluk

You will find more details of the Newcastle Local Plan here. This includes details of our current plan than runs until 2030 and a timeline we are working to develop the new one.  

Join our Volunteer Days

As part of our campaign to protect water and wildlife and to improve habitat, please come along and help Tyne Rivers Trust do some essential maintenance work at the Parish Ponds near Woolsington

On Wednesday 13 March and Friday 22 March Between 10.00am to 3.30pm

Tasks will include litter picking, removal of self-seeded Alder, pruning of shrubs (Snowberry and Japanese Rose). Please provide your own tools depending on what you’d like to do, e.g. spade, loppers, secateurs; also wear gloves and suitable footwear. – it can be very muddy. All necessary litter picking equipment will be provided (subject to numbers). Why not bring along your own packed lunch if you wish to stay for the whole day.

For more information and to register your interest please contact

joannecouchman@yahoo.co.uk or johnalittleton6992@gmail.com

Please meet on the corner beside the Lily Pond at 10am (see left).

If you come along later, you will find us working along the left-hand side of the Main Pond

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Simonside Primary School Clothes Recycling Project

Please be advised that the bin is at the far end of the school car park and accessible to all.

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Cheviot Primary School: The Edible Playground

A post submitted by Cheviot Primary School

Cheviot Edible Playground and Woolsington Parish Council 

Cheviot’s Edible Playground is able to flourish thanks to the donations and continued support of the Woolsington Parish Council, and friends of our school Joanne Couchman and John Littleton.

Last year we worked hard to get the Edible Playground up and running and used regularly. This year, Mrs Waite and Mrs Keers are taking charge, and clearly Mrs Waite already has her class on the case!  

So far this term, Joanne and John brought us some Japanese onions to plant so that they can grow over the winter months.

Cheviot would like to say a massive thank you to Woolsington Parish Council for their support and friendship.

The Edible Playground: an article by school pupils Ellie-Mae, Scarlett, Emilie and Amelia in Year Five 

Year Five are in control of the Edible Playground. We have been picking the raspberries, carrots and potatoes and we are starting to plant some onions. In the Edible Playground, there are lots of fruit and vegetables that we pick every Wednesday. We also make sure that weeds don’t get in the way of the plants that need to grow.

Plants need water, sunlight and space to grow. Some of the weeds try to grow over our plants which is bad so we have to watch them closely!

Taking care of plants is a big responsibility to take on. We need to be careful about what happens to them.

You can visit the Cheviot School website via www.cheviot.smartacademies.net – it is full of information and great articles.

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Breeding Mallard and Canada Geese taken at the Parish Ponds, Its representative and Illustrates a successful breeding season for waterfowl, due wholly to the Parish Council and its investments in Biodiversity

Bee friendly City

Grass verges in Woolsington maintained by the City Council Grounds Maintenance Team

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BINGO

Galafield Community Centre, 

Every Tuesday and Saturday 6pm - 9pm

All Welcome

Gala Fields Bingo.pdf

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Developers work with community to clean up open space near proposed new development site at Upper Callerton

A consortium of developers have banded together with community groups to clean up the local area. Staff from Taylor Wimpey North East, Northumberland Estates and their consultants joined forces with members of local youth group Projects4Change and Woolsington Parish Council to clean up footpaths and open spaces surrounding the proposed development at Upper Callerton.

The litter picking team

The litter pick was arranged following the consortium’s request for initial feedback on its proposals, with the young people at the youth club commenting that they were keen to be involved in environmental projects.

Litter pick sticks, gloves, high vis jackets, bags and boxes were provided by the consortium, and a significant amount and range of litter was collected and disposed of on the day. As a thank you to the young people at Projects4Change who attended the litter pick, Northumberland Estates and Taylor Wimpey North East have also arranged a free visit to Alnwick Castle and Gardens later in the year.

The proposed development by the consortium comprising Northumberland Estates, Persimmon Homes, Taylor Wimpey and the Quadrini family could see up to 1,600 two, three, four and five bedroom homes built at Upper Callerton.

Affordable homes would also be created as part of the scheme, boosting the affordability of home ownership for local people and relieving the pressure on the social housing rented sector.

David Abercrombie, Technical Director at Taylor Wimpey North East said: “As soon as we start planning new developments, we’re keen to get involved with and support the local community as much as possible.

“After receiving valuable feedback on the current state of the area around the proposed development, we knew we could help in providing a genuine solution, which also gives back to the community.”

Barry Spall, Development Planner at Northumberland Estates said: “We’re grateful that so many people showed up on the day as it meant we were able to collect a significant amount of rubbish. The surrounding footpaths and open spaces look much tidier and more welcoming as a result.”

Upper Callerton is part of the Callerton Neighbourhood Growth Area, which has been allocated for the development of approximately 3,000 new homes within the Newcastle Gateshead Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan (CSUCP).

The public consultation, which is live at www.uppercallertonconsultation.com, will be around a master plan that takes into account initial comments from Newcastle City Council, Woolsington Parish Council and the Woolsington Residents’ Association, together with local youth groups.

An estimated 600 new construction and supply chain jobs could be created if plans get the green light, with work on this latest phase of the overall housing allocation for Callerton potentially starting as early as autumn 2023.

Local youth group Projects4Change show Members of Woolsington Parish Council how it`s done

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It was great to see children at Simonside Primary School enjoying the Christmas Tree donated by the Parish Council, it looks fantastic

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A great day was had at the Galafest, Galafield Centre, Newbiggin Lane.

Gala Fields Event.pdf

Please enjoy the photos attached below, taken at various times during 2022,  it helps us appreciate what a diverse and yet consistently wonderful area we all represent.

Bedeburn Ward.pdf

Callerton Ward.pdf

Newbiggin Hall Ward.pdf

Woolsington & Bank Foot Ward.pdf

Certified AGAR including Audit Certificate 2022 - 2023

Annual Governance & Accountability Return Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 

Woolsington Parish Council - Audited AGAR 2022_23.pdf

Notice of Conclusion of Audit

Notice of Conclusion of Audit for Year Ending 31st March 2023.pdf

Public Right of Inspection Notice

Public Right of Inspection (03.07.23 - 11.08.23).pdf

AGAR 2022 - 2023

AGAR 2022-23.pdf

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Certified AGAR including Audit Certificate 2021 - 2022

 Annual Governance & Accountability Return Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 

AGAR Sections 1 and 2.pdf

AGAR Section 3.pdf

Final External Auditor Report and Certificate.pdf

Notice of Conclusion of Audit

Notice of Conclusion of Audit for Year Ending 31st March 2022.pdf

Uncertified AGAR 2021 - 2022

Annual Governance & Accountability Return Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022  

AGAR Sections 1 and 2.pdf

AGAR Section 3.pdf

Notice of the audit and right to inspect the Annual Governance & Accountability Return 

Notice of the Audit for Year Ending 31st March 2022.pdf

Public Right of Inspection Notice 

Public Right of Inspection (13.06.2022 - 22.07.2022).pdf

AGAR 2021 - 2022

Annual-Return-Form3-2021-22_e.pdf

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 Certified AGAR including Audit Certificate 2020 - 2021  

Annual Governance & Accountability Return Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2021  

AGAR Sections 1 and 2.pdf

AGAR Section 3.pdf

Notice of Conclusion of Audit 

Notice of Conclusion of Audit for Year Ending 31st March 2021.pdf

Public Right of Inspection Notice 

Public Right of Inspection (14.06.2021 - 23.07.2021)..docx

AGAR 2020 - 2021 

Annual-Return-Part3-2020-21-3-e-enabled.pdf

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Annual Governance & Accountability Return Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2020: 

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a levy which the Council charges on many new developments.  The money raised helps to pay for the infrastructure needed across the city as a result of developments such as schools, strategic greenspace, flood defences, and strategic transport improvements. 

The Adopted Charging Schedule can be downloaded from the Documents section of this page, along with the Residential and Commercial Charging Zones Map, Examiner’s Report, Adopted Regulation 123 List and the Instalments Policy. 

A Developers Guide is in the Documents section of this page explaining in more detail how the CIL process works, such as what CIL information is needed to be submitted with planning applications and before commencement. It contains links to the Planning Portal CIL page which provides links to the relevant forms to be submitted before you commence your development. A wide range of ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ can also be viewed in the Documents section.

The CIL is charged per square metre on many new buildings, based on their use and location.   The charges are based on viability and have been approved by an independent Examiner and by Full Council. The Council has to ensure that there is an appropriate balance between the rates being high enough to help fund infrastructure, and not harming the economic viability of development as a whole across Newcastle. 

Section 106 Agreements continue to cover on-site measures that are needed to make a specific development acceptable, such as access works, drainage management, and greenspace. Provision of affordable housing also continues as previously. A Supplementary Planning Document has been adopted by the City which identifies what will be expected to be secured through planning obligations and is available in the Documents section. 

The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2020 came into force on the 1st September 2020. CIL charges remain the same for developments in the use classes affected by these changes. This includes: Small Retail Units under 280sqm (changing from A1 to E or F2 if mostly selling essential goods, including food and at least 1km from another similar shop), Supermarkets over 280sqm (changing from A1 to E), and Retail Warehousing over 280sqm (changing from A1 to E). Changes to the Use Classes within the ‘All Other Developments’ category remain chargeable at £0. The remaining CIL chargeable development categories are unaffected by the recent Use Classes Order changes. 

Spending the CIL

The funds generated are spent in compliance with the CIL Regulations (Regulation 59) (external link) and in accordance with City Council’s Regulation 123 list of strategic infrastructure.Up to 5% of the levy receipts can be spent on administering and enforcing the levy and are allocated for such purposes. 

Documents

• (These files may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Request an accessible format. )
• CIL Developers Guide (pdf, 104kb)
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Planning Obligations SPD (2021) (pdf, 1mb)
• CIL Charging Schedule (pdf, 351kb)
• Residential Charging Zone Map (pdf, 1mb)   Individual Areas (pdf 4mb)
• Commercial Charging Zone Map (pdf, 2.4mb)  Individual Areas (pdf 4mb)
• Examiners Report (pdf, 241kb)
• Regulation 123 List
• Instalments Policy

We have started to receive the Parish’s portion of the above payments from Newcastle City Council. These charges were levied by Newcastle City Council on the developers of the new housing estates being built in the Parish. They are not released until certain previously agreed numbers of houses are actually built.

A Section 106 is a legal agreement between a developer seeking planning permission and the local planning authority, which is used to mitigate the impact of their new housing on the local community and infrastructure.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a new levy that local authorities can charge on developments in their area to ensure facilities and services in the area have capacity to keep up with new homes and to enable further sustainable growth.

The funding can only be spent on infrastructure improvements.

We would welcome suggestions from the community, to enable a list to be drawn up of projects to spend this money on, to improve the parish and local area.

Woolsington Parish Council CIL Annual Reports - 2020

Woolsington Parish Council CIL Annual Reports - 2021

Woolsington Parish Council CIL Annual Reports - 2022