Site pages last updated 10th February 2026
Old News has been moved to News History
Further Hearings Transcripts have been processed into Minutes of the hearing.
We suggest that you take the time to read them as they give a clear account of what was discussed, actions and responsibilities and area’s of disagreements
Click this Link to read the full ShieldsGazette article
It appears that the council may have submitted out of date figures on traffic levels and air pollution to the Inspector of the independent examination of the Local Plan. It looks like this may have been a deliberate action in an attempt to downplay the concerns by local residents about the proposed 1,200 home development. If this is the case, submitting inaccurate or misleading information to a government inspector is a serious action which can result in significant legal, professional, and regulatory penalties. Independent inspectors—such as the Planning Inspectorate, rely on honest, transparent, and accurate data to perform their duties.
Update on Hearings: Wednesday 21st January was the final day of the Hearing sessions that have taken place over the past 2 weeks.
Click this link to watch the recorded sessions and read the transcript
Change of procedure for Week 1 of the Stage 2 Hearings
Following representation from members of the group and others the hearings have been put back until w/c 12th and 19th January all of which will be in person.
Stage 2 hearing Statements have now been published and updated: click here to read them
The inspector has published an updated to the stage 2 hearing programme:
INSP24: Stage 2 – click here to read the Draft hearings programme (21 October 2025)
INSP25: Stage 2 – click here to read the Draft virtual hearing notes for participants (21 October 2025)
Please click on this link to review: Inspectors Matters, Issues and Questions Stage 2
South Tyneside Council has published their responses to all of the Action Points arising from the Stage One Hearings related to the Examination in Public of the South Tyneside Local Plan. The Working Group is now preparing for the Stage two hearings which will take place in mid-November.
Over the next few weeks we will be working through both the STC Reports as well as the Matters, Issues and questions raised by the Independent Inspector Mr. Spencer, in order to put the best case forward to stop the planned development on the Fellgate Green Belt.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: A letter was sent to the Examination Inspector Mr Spencer on 24th November, from Savills who are acting on behalf of Laverick Hall Farm and Durham Cathedral.
The letter challenged the Appendices that had been added to the Save the Fellgate Green Belt Groups responses, added as part of the additional questions that had been asked by the Inspector Mr Spencer. These were related to Air quality and Public Health concerns for current and future Fellgate residents (MIQ7.46 and MIQ7.47)
Click here to Read the STFGB submission sent to the Inspector
The Inspector Mr Spencer responded directly to Savills on 1st December 2025. I thank him for doing so.
You can read both letters by clicking on this link
Click here to read all of the Latest New as Published on South Tyneside web site
Change of procedure for Week 1 of the Stage 2 Hearings
Following representation from members of the group and others the hearings have been put back until w/c 12th and 19th January all of which will be in person.
Stage 2 hearing Statements have now been published and updated: click here to read them
The inspector has published an updated to the stage 2 hearing programme:
INSP24: Stage 2 – click here to read the Draft hearings programme (21 October 2025)
INSP25: Stage 2 – click here to read the Draft virtual hearing notes for participants (21 October 2025)
Please click on this link to review: Inspectors Matters, Issues and Questions Stage 2
In the meantime please Stay Positive and by Working Together we truly believe that we can Save the Fellgate Green Belt
Hi all. Those of you that made initial responses during the Consultation on the Local Plan between Jan15th and March 3rd 2024 will have received an email related to additional questions that have been added by the Inspector. These are related to an issue that the Working Group had highlighted to the Inspector last week. The Inspector has taken into account the points we raised and added the additional Questions.
Please note that only those who made representations during the initial Consultation between Jan 15th and March 3rd 2024 can respond.
For those of you who this applies to please feel free to respond directly as the topic is a critical one. The closing date for the new Questions is 11th November.
If however you could wait a few days we will discuss this within the Working Group and determine the best way forward. We’re currently working on the responses that we have to provide in relation to the other issues raised by the Inspector, which have a deadline of 5:00 Pm on this Friday (24th). Thanks 
Following recent meetings and subsequent discussions with the Working Group we compiled and submitted prior to the deadline, the list of Verbal hearing sessions that they will be attending along with the named Members of the Group who will be speaking during them.
The Group will now be working on the written responses to the Matters, Issues and Questions that the Inspector has highlighted.
These will be submitted prior to the second deadline date of 5:00 PM on 24th October.
If any resident would also like to make an additional individual representation, which must be based on the Matters, Issues and Questions that the Inspector has highlighted, then they can do so but it must be forwarded to Annette Feeney (Programme Officer) again by the same deadline date.
Only those who made representations during the initial Consultation period between Jan 15th 2024 and March 3rd 2024 can do so.
Following recent meetings and subsequent discussions with the Working Group we compiled and submitted prior to the deadline, the list of Verbal hearing sessions that they will be attending along with the named Members of the Group who will be speaking during them.
The Group will now be working on the written responses to the Matters, Issues and Questions that the Inspector has highlighted.
These will be submitted prior to the second deadline date of 5:00 PM on 24th October.
If any resident would also like to make an additional individual representation, which must be based on the Matters, Issues and Questions that the Inspector has highlighted, then they can do so but it must be forwarded to Annette Feeney (Programme Officer) again by the same deadline date.
Only those who made representations during the initial Consultation period between Jan 15th 2024 and March 3rd 2024 can do so.
If anyone wants details of the Matters, Issues and Questions (15th September 2025) as well as additional information, please click on this link: Inspectors Matters, Issues and Questions Stage 2
In the meantime please Stay Positive and by Working Together we truly believe that we can Save the Fellgate Green Belt
South Tyneside Council has published their responses to all of the Action Points arising from the Stage One Hearings related to the Examination in Public of the South Tyneside Local Plan. The Working Group is now preparing for the Stage two hearings which will take place in mid-November.
Over the next few weeks we will be working through both the STC Reports as well as the Matters, Issues and questions raised by the Independent Inspector Mr. Spencer, in order to put the best case forward to stop the planned development on the Fellgate Green Belt.
Members of the Working Group will be making verbal representations during all relevant sessions.
Residents who made representations during the Initial Consultation between January 15th and March 3rd 2024 can also make either an additional verbal representation or a written representation which must be related to the Stage 2 Matters, Issues and Questions which have been raised by Mr. Spencer.
There are two deadlines set which are as follows:-
If you wish to be heard at the Stage 2 hearings you should confirm this via e-mail/writing to the Programme Officer, indicating which session(s), relevant to your representations, you wish to attend, by no later than 5pm on Friday 10 October 2025.
Any written statements in response to the Inspector’s Stage 2 Matters, Issues and Questions should be submitted no later than 5pm on Friday 24 October 2025.
New and updated documents have been published on STC web site – Click here to read them
We will keep you informed via our Facebook pages and our web site, in the meantime, Please Stay Positive and by Working Together I truly believe that we can Save the Fellgate Green Belt 
STC Responses to the Inspectors Question
The source of these document can accessed by clicking this link.
Action point 12 relate to white mare pool junction : This is a must read.
Action Point 14 relates to compensatory improvements to the remaining Green Belt
Action Point 15 relates to dates for the first completion on GA2
Stage two of the Local Plan examination hearing sessions will take place in November.
Note: as of the above published date; STC has not yet updated their documentation: The hearing venue will be held in The Holiday Inn® Newcastle South hotel based in Boldon Business Park, formally known as the Clarion Hotel, Boldon Colliery.
INSP20: Draft hearings programme – The draft timetable (correct as at 15 Sept).
INSP21: Inspector’s matters, issues and questions – This describes what the inspector would like to discuss at the sessions.
INSP22: Guidance note for participants – Guidance, including deadlines, for individuals / organisations involved.
You can also view them in the Local Plan document library, within the correspondence to the Council from the inspector section.
Stage 1 – Document History:
Links to:
Post Stage 1 Hearings Letter
Stage 1 Hearing
Members of the Working Group will be making verbal representations during all relevant sessions.
Residents who made representations during the Initial Consultation between January 15th and March 3rd 2024 can also make either an additional verbal representation or a written representation which must be related to the Stage 2 Matters, Issues and Questions which have been raised by Mr. Spencer.
There are two deadlines set which are as follows:-
If you wish to be heard at the Stage 2 hearings you should confirm this via e-mail/writing to the Programme Officer, indicating which session(s), relevant to your representations, you wish to attend, by no later than 5pm on Friday 10 October 2025.
Any written statements in response to the Inspector’s Stage 2 Matters, Issues and Questions should be submitted no later than 5pm on Friday 24 October 2025.
New and updated documents have been published on STC web site – Click here to read them
We will keep you informed via our Facebook pages and our web site, in the meantime, Please Stay Positive and by Working Together I truly believe that we can Save the Fellgate Green Belt
Serious concerns over new(11/7/25) Statements of Common Ground in the Examination Library
As you may well know members of the working group sat through many of the hearings and or watched live streams of the Matter discussions. After the closing session on Friday 11th July, a number of new documents were posted in the examination library. We are not aware that these documents were requested by the Independent Inspector Mr Spencer, as these documents have not been mentioned in any of the previous proceedings.
These documents outline agreements between STC, Landowners and Land Agents.
They give specific details on the future use of the land, building timelines, site entry and exit provisions along with previously unknow details.
We have had no prior notice or details of these documents and in our opinion these documents are of significant importance that the public had a right to know about them and their contents in advance.
We are constantly being told that the examination process is meant to be open, fair, and impartial. Once again this premise is being tested to breaking point. Government Guidance clearly state:
- The Inspector must ensure that all parties, including the public, have a reasonable opportunity to comment on new evidence.
- If significant documents are added late in the process, additional time must be given for participants to review and respond to the new evidence.
We suggest that you take a look at these documents Click here and if you find as we do that they contravene any of the above points, you should raise an objection/complaint to the Programme Officer