Supplementary Planning Document on Shared Housing

Introduction

Our city plays host to Northumbria University, Newcastle University and Newcastle College and the many thousands of students that study there. Some live at home or in purpose built accommodation but a large proportion live in privately rented houses and flats in the community.

The city is also home to many people starting their careers and seeking similar rented housing before they step onto the owner occupation ladder. Shared housing of this sort in the private rented sector is the subject of this policy document. You may also be interested in the Interim Planning Guidance on Purpose Built Student Housing which looks at another important aspect of our work.

Adoption

The SPD was adopted at Committee on 28 February 2008 and became operational for all planning applications registered at or after 10.00 am on on 7 March 2008. There was only one, very minor wording amendment as compared with the recommendation taken to the Committee in the report. It was agreed not to include the St Gabriel's area for the moment, but there would be early liaison with residents on the issues raised by them, to be undertaken as soon as possible.

Documents relating to adoption:

Adopted SPD (PDF, opens in new window, 400 KB)
Adoption statement (PDF, opens in new window, 5 KB)
Statement re consultation under Regulation 18 (PDF, opens in new window, 53 KB)
Sustainability Appraisal Report - as per draft below

Consultation on draft SPD December 2007 - January 2008

The Council reconsulted on the draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) on Shared Housing from 14 December 2007 to 25 January 2008. 75 responses were received, most in favour but with some significant objections and comments. 30 were on a single issue, i.e. a request to include the St Gabriel's area of Heaton in the area to be covered by the SPD policies. You can download all the responses in full (large PDF file, 5.5 MB, opens in new window).

A report was taken to the Planning and Transport Strategy Committee on 28 February 2008, with a recommendation to adopt the SPD. You can view the report here.

You can still download documents from the most recent and previous consultation exercises below.

Documents relating to consultation December 2007 to January 2008

Withdrawal of SPD adopted in May 2007

Following the consultation in February and March 2007 outlined below, the Council decided to adopt the SPD on Shared Housing in May 2007. However it then became apparent that the consultation had been incomplete and at a meeting in June 2007 the SPD was formally withdrawn, with a decision to reconsult. This happened in December 2007 and the consultation letter downloadable above gave formal notice of the withdrawal.

Documents relating to consultation in February and March 2007

The Council approved for consultation a draft SPD on Shared Housing in December 2006. Consultation was undertaken during February and March 2007. The results were reported back to Committee in May 2007 and it was agreed to adopt the SPD. These documents date from the consultation commenced in February 2007:

SPD matters setting out consultation details (PDF, 5KB)
Draft SPD on Shared Housing (PDF, 770KB)
Detailed version of map from SPD (PDF, LARGE FILE, 4.8MB)
Draft Sustainability Report (PDF, 88KB)
Consultation Report (PDF, 434KB)

Documents relating to consultation in November and December 2005

An SPD on Student Housing was prepared in 2005 and there was consultation in November and December. This version was not proceeded with but the work was carried forward into an SPD on Shared Housing - see above.