The challenge of maintaining the area’s unique ‘quirky’ character and its rich heritage assets, at the same time as attracting modern and innovative development, has not been easy.

To help steer this process, the Ouseburn Trust www.ouseburntrust.org.uk, in partnership with the City Council’s Ouseburn Regeneration Team, published the Lower Ouseburn Regeneration Strategy in 2003. This strategy laid out the following vision for the area:

‘By 2010 the Lower Ouseburn Valley will be a thriving, sustainable, urban village in a unique riverside location within the City of Newcastle. The best heritage features of the area will have been preserved and enhanced within a vibrant townscape and an attractive landscape that will reconnect people with the diverse natural environment. A wide range of businesses especially those related to creative, innovative, multi-media and cultural activities will be prospering in the area. The Valley will also be home to a stable mixed residential community. A wide variety of services and leisure opportunities will be available for residents, employees and visitors to the area.’

The strategy has provided a framework for regeneration in the Valley since 2003, and was widely consulted on, aiming to reflect local needs and aspirations. This strategy is currently under review – the scale of change in the Valley to date will be considered and questions asked about future developments in the Valley. This work is being overseen by the Ouseburn Management Board (see governance section), who represent local stakeholders, residents and elected members. The strategy review will be carried out in partnership and consulted on throughout the process. For more information, contact david.cross@newcastle.gov.uk. The full document is available to download at the bottom of this page.

The following documents provide specific advice relating to the Lower Ouseburn Conservation Area:

The Lower Ouseburn Valley Conservation Area Character Statement  provides an assessment of the character and appearance of the Valley (document available to download at the bottom of this page).

The Lower Ouseburn Conservation Area Management Plan provides guidance through policy statements to assist in the preservation and enhancement of future development within the Valley (document available to download at the bottom of this page).

The Urban Design Framework (2005) provides detailed design guidelines and principles for the physical regeneration of the Valley at all levels from policy to forward planning and decision making, within the framework area.

Have your say on the future of the Ouseburn Valley

In recent years the Ouseburn Valley has been changing, with the growth of exciting projects, businesses and visitor attractions.

We are preparing a new Regeneration Strategy for the Valley which will guide development in the area. Questions and issues it will address include:

• Can a mix of new homes, businesses and leisure facilities exist in harmony in a small area?
• How can we get a good balance of development without spoiling the Valley’s existing assets and unique character?
• How will external factors affect the type of development that we see here and what can we do about it?
• How much should change and how quickly should it happen?

A vital part of developing this document is getting the views of people who visit, live or work in the area as it is important to us that their suggestions and ideas are included.

Several consultation meetings focusing on the various themes of the Strategy were held at venues around Ouseburn in Autumn 2008.  You can download the notes from these meetings at the bottom of this page.