Gateshead Outdoor Activity Centre, Mulberry Park, Low Fell, Gateshead

Coal-mining

Area affected by past coal-mining that may pose a risk of ground instability. It is likely that a planning application would need to be supported by a Coal Mining Risk Assessment.

Flood Risk Areas / Flood Zones

Flood Risk Areas refer to the probability of flooding occurring on a site from sea and rivers. 
Inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk (whether existing or future). 

Flood zone 1 - land with a low probability of flooding from rivers or the sea
Flood zone 2 – land with a medium probability of flooding
Flood zones 3a & 3b – land with a high probability of flooding

Surface water flooding from rainfall events at differing intensities and frequencies is also a flood risk consideration. 
 
Where appropriate, applications should be supported by a site-specific flood risk assessment. These areas are:

• Flood zone 1 – where the site is 1 hectare or greater in size
• Flood zone 2
• Flood zone 3a & 3b
• Land identified in a strategic flood risk assessment as being at increased flood risk in future
• Land that may be subject to other sources of flooding, where its development would introduce a more vulnerable use

Data source for this information:
Gateshead Council Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA)
Environment Agency
National Planning Policy Framework / National Planning Practice Guidance

How often is this data source updated?
Every time the Local Plan SFRA is updated.
NPPF and Environment Agency data are updated periodically.

This site has been rated as risk band III for soil and groundwater contamination.
Risk bands range from I to V, the higher the band the greater potential risk (read more about ground risk bands).

This rating is based on the following potential risks listed below:

Groundwater vulnerability medium

Based on the hydrology, geology and soil properties within a single square kilometre around the site, the vulnerability of groundwater to pollutants discharged at ground level is considered likely to be medium.

This site has been rated as risk band IV for geotechnical hazards.
Risk bands range from I to V, the higher the band the greater potential risk (read more about risk bands).

This rating is based on the following potential risks listed below:

Ground gas

Past landfill sites, coal mining and chemical wastes that present a ground gas hazard may be present.

Local ground stability hazards

Area affected by burnt colliery ash, and chemical waste fill areas posing a risk of land instability and/or affecting the capacity of the ground to carry weight, affecting the design of building foundations.

Coal-mining

Area affected by past coal-mining that may pose a risk of ground instability. It is likely that a planning application would need to be supported by a Coal Mining Risk Assessment.

Conservation area

Conservation Areas are a material consideration when local authorities consider planning applications. Conservation areas are designated areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which should be preserved and/or enhanced. They may also include other heritage assets including listed buildings, registered parks and gardens, locally listed buildings, parks and gardens, scheduled monuments and registered battlefields.

Government planning policy requires that development should conserve and enhance heritage assets in a manner appropriate to their significance.  Development should enhance or better reveal the significance of conservation areas.

Development outside a conservation area may affect its setting.  Any development which affects the setting of a conservation area should be assessed in the same manner as development within the conservation area.

Applications for planning permission must be supported by a heritage statement.

There are special provisions for trees in Conservation Areas.

Data sources for information on heritage assets include:
Gateshead Local Plan policies and designations
Historic England – www.historicengland.org.uk
Tyne and Wear Sitelines (Historic Environment Record) - https://www.twsitelines.info/
Trees in conservation area guidance - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tree-preservation-orders-and-trees-in-conservation-areas