Good news for regeneration of former Swan Hunter shipyards

Government has today confirmed the local development order (LDO), covering both the former Swan Hunter shipyard and adjoining land. This substitutes a simplified planning process, so developers do not need to seek planning permission if their project is within the designated area and meets set criteria.

The LDO allows for the construction of offices, light industry and general industry (excluding incineration purposes, chemical treatment or landfill or hazardous or inert waste).

Qualifying projects on the site, which include both new buildings and uses, need to be linked to priority business sectors – off-shore wind energy generation; tidal and wave technology, oil and gas exploration and extraction; advance subsea manufacturing and technology.

There are restrictions on the size of the development allowed to minimise the impact on the adjacent World Heritage Site at Segedunum, which formed the final defensive emplacement along Hadrian’s Wall, and protect local residential areas.

As an enterprise zone the Swan Hunter site also enjoys a five-year business rates relief for businesses locating on or before 31 March 2015.

North Tyneside Council, which retains the freehold land ownership for the Swan Hunter site, said it is in negotiations with potential development partners for the provision of buildings at the site. Allen Creedy senior partners said ” ethical partnership is closely involved with a number of landowners with interests along the tyne and is encouraged by this support from government”.

Share this:

Facebook Twitter
Skip to content