South Tyneside Sustainability Appraisal (Scoping Report): Appendix C South Tyneside Local Plan Character Area Profiles August 2018 1 South Tyneside Local Plan Character Area Profile: Inner South Shields Character area Inner South Shields comprises the Beacon and Bents ward. South Shields town centre is the largest in South Tyneside and provides the principal commercial, size: 318 ha retail, leisure, community and tourism location. This is flanked by the riverside and foreshore areas, with surrounding residential and employment areas to the north and south. It is a key location in Tyne & Wear and benefits from good accessibility, including metro/bus public transport interchange and direct ferry link Population: to North Tyneside. 10,504 Landscape Town Centre - South Shields Centre includes the central business district of the town and principal commercial area. Shops are focused along King Street, with Character Study: retail parks and industrial estates extending south. There is also extensive car parking on the edges of the town centre. townscape/ Riverside - South Shields Riverside a mix of industrial, commercial, cultural, residential and vacant land. Ongoing large-scale redevelopment will substantially landscape alter the character of the area. qualities Residential - The Lawe and Ocean Road is predominantly residential with a commercial strip extending from the town centre to the foreshore with a distinctive concentration of curry houses and B&Bs/Guest Houses. Westoe is also predominantly residential with the Westoe Bridges district shopping centre. Open Space – Key areas of open space are situated along the riverside and coastal areas. South Shields Foreshore provides registered historic parks, recreation grounds, beaches and the northern parts of the Coastal Leas. There is a major new park at Harton Quay being developed with views along the river. What is the policy context? The Local Development Framework Core Strategy (2007) and South Shields Town Centre & Waterfront Area Action Plan (AAP) (2008) set out that the spatial strategy for the Inner South Shields area and are supported by the South Shields Regeneration Plan and SPD8: the South Shields Riverside Regeneration Area. Policies seek to: Strengthen and promote the growth of the town centre Support South Shields as the principal centre for shopping, entertainment and leisure. Establish the foreshore as a destination of choice for visitors and tourists Redevelop the riverside as a high quality location for urban living, leisure and employment Conservation Area Management Plans (SPD 19 & 20) for the Mariners Cottages and Mill Dam Conservation Areas, set out the guidelines for the management and protection of the historic assets in these areas. The ‘South Shields 365 town centre vision’ document (2013) outlines ambitious plans to creating an expanded retail and leisure offer in a vibrant town centre. Opportunities include a new retail and high quality family-friendly leisure developments with improved access in the ‘Town Centre’. The ‘Riverside’ has potential for new leisure, cultural and commercial activity, as well as residential at ‘Holborn’. The ‘Foreshore’ has the opportunity to increase its visitors and extend the season. What is the baseline situation? Biodiversity: Flora & Fauna SA Issue Baseline Information Comparator or target Source Comment Implications for Local Plan European Sites Northumbrian Coast SPA & Ramsar Site N/A JNCC The coastline in this character area is designated as part of The biodiversity value of the Number of SSSI’s and Durham Coast SSSI – 140.99 ha There are 5 SSSI’s in South Tyneside Natural England (2013) the Northumbrian Coast SPA and Ramsar site. It is also Inner South Shields character Area (ha) covering 158.8 ha identified as a SSSI’s which is recorded to be in ‘favourable’ area is an important asset to Condition of SSSI’s Durham Coast SSSI : Favourable 96% favourable condition in South condition. There is also 2 Local Wildlife Sites in this the borough. The Local Plan Tyneside character area. should seek to protect and Number and Area (ha) 1. South Marine Park Lake (0.9 ha) There are 52 Local Wildlife Sites in South Tyneside Council enhance these assets. of Local Wildlife Sites 2. South Shields Dunes (12.1 ha) South Tyneside Human Health SA Issue Baseline Information Comparator or target Source Comment Implications for Local Plan Life Expectancy Beacon & Bents M: 74.5 F: 81 South Tyneside : M 77.2 F 81.7 JNSA 2012 Life expectancy for both males and females and the Seek to improve life Obese Children Reception Year (4 -5 yrs) : 10.2% South Tyneside: 10.9% Public Health England percentage of adults eating healthily is lower than the expectancy Year 6 (10-11 yrs): 22.4% South Tyneside: 22.9% (2016) borough average. However childhood obesity and reported Seek to promote and Obese Adults Beacon & Bents: 26.1% South Tyneside: 27.4% http://www.localhealth levels of binge drinking are lower than the borough encourage opportunities for Binge drinking adults Beacon & Bents: 27.4% South Tyneside: 28.7% .org.uk average. healthy lifestyle choices Healthy eating adults Beacon & Bents: 19.4 % South Tyneside: 19.8% through the Local Plan. 1 Natural Assets SA Issue Baseline Information Comparator or target Source Comment Implications for Local Plan Area (ha) Inner South Shields: 318 ha South Tyneside area: 6,443ha South Tyneside Council The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) (2010) Protect the Inner South Flood Risk Zones Sea front and the riverside: identifies that there are a range of flooding issues in Inner Shields Character area from Functional and tidal Flood Risk Zone 3 and Flood Risk Zone 2. South Shields, predominantly along the sea front and the the risk of surface water Critical Drainage Areas Critical Drainage Areas 3a: This area has numerous historical flooding events and is at riverside, comprising functional and tidal Flood Risk Zone 3 flooding and any potential risk from surface water flooding. and Flood Risk Zone 2. There are various flood defences to risk of coastal flooding Historic Flood Risk South Shields Town Centre: 152 Flood Risk incidents in South address these issues with a current project being exacerbated by climate Ocean Road – 7 reported events. Tyneside. implemented at Littlehaven Beach, together with the change Westoe Road – 5 reported events realignment of the sea wall defences, promenade and car Continue to protect parks along Harbour Drive. There are also areas of varying Geodiversity Sites There is 1 geodiversity site in the Inner There are 6 geodiversity sites in South geodiversity sites in this vulnerability to surface water flooding. South Shields Character area: Tyneside – Total Hectares: 36.8 ha character area. Consider any landscape South Shields Dunes (12.1 ha) The South Shields Dunes, measuring 12.1ha, provide the designations in this area. Green Belt There is no Green Belt in the Inner South South Tyneside Green Belt area: 2,396 only geodiversity site in the character area. The coastal Shields character area. (ha) area is also identified as the Limestone Coast designation Landscape Local Development Framework: None identified. Limestone Landscapes by the Limestone Landscape partnership. Designations Landscape Character Study: None identified Partnership Limestone Landscape Designations: Limestone Coast South Tyneside Council Air and Climatic Factors SA Issue Baseline Information Comparator or target Source Comment Implications for Local Plan Air Quality There are no AQMA’s in the Inner South There are 2 AQMA’s in South Tyneside South Tyneside Council The expected impacts of climate change are increased Consider potential climate Management Areas Shields character area. flood risk due to increased precipitation and sea level rise. change risks and deliver The coastal and riverside areas of this character area may relevant adaptations and Any known predicted See Baseline Information Topic- Climatic Factors, Sustainability and Energy be more susceptible to these risks. Furthermore, increase mitigation measures. climate change risks? wind speeds and storms in coastal areas may also pose a risk to buildings and infrastructure. Material Assets and Infrastructure SA Issue Baseline Information Comparator or target Source Comment Implications for Local Plan Key Infrastructure Key Infrastructure assets within the Inner South Shields character area include: South This area has good transport links with a public transport Consider the key assets and Assets South Tyneside’s principal commercial, retail, leisure, and tourism location. Tyneside Council interchange including metro and bus provision, the Shields functions of the character Transport The Inner South Shields character area is served by: Ferry, existing and proposed cycle routes and the A183 area. road infrastructure. Specific road infrastructure Infrastructure A183 Cycle routes South Shields bus Retain and where possible improvement requirements have been identified at the 1 metro station Shields Ferry station improve all forms of A194 Western Approach/A194 Crossgate/B1303 Station transport provision and Green Infrastructure See Baseline Information Topic- Green Belt & Green Infrastructure Road junction and the A1018 Westoe Road and its junction highway issues in this Allotment Provision There are no allotment sites n the Inner There are 23 Council owned allotment sites at Westoe Bridges. character area. South Shields Character Area. in South Tyneside providing 1347 plots. If possible seek to provide Quality of Children’s