Gateshead Council’s cabinet will decide whether to push ahead with a new development blueprint for the borough and neighbouring Newcastle when it meets on 16 June 2026. A report before councillors recommends formally starting work on the joint Local Plan, a framework that will set rules for housing, employment, transport, and the environment across both areas for years to come.
If approved, the council must publish a notice of intent to prepare the plan by 30 June. The project would then need to clear its first government gateway by 31 October, setting off a 30-month timetable to get the document finished. A group of councillors from both authorities would be formed to keep the work on track, with Neil Wilkinson, the council’s spatial planning and environment manager, leading the process.
The new plan builds on the existing Local Plan, which was first adopted in 2015 as a shared strategy between Gateshead and Newcastle. That framework—still used to decide planning applications—was reviewed in 2025 and found to need updating to match current national rules. Alongside the joint effort, the council has separately submitted its MetroGreen Area Action Plan for independent inspection and continues wider regeneration work.
The push for a new joint plan comes as central government encourages closer partnership between local councils and combined authorities, aiming for every part of England to have an up-to-date local plan. More details about the joint planning work can be found at newcastlegatesheadplan.org.
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