Whitburn Neighbourhood Forum

04/11/2026

31/10/2026

New planning rules are making it harder to protect Whitburn from unwanted development.

From today, more planning decisions will be made by planning officers, bypassing the planning committee.

At the same time, new planning policies are turning the land around Whitburn from Green Belt into Grey Belt, opening the door to speculative applications from developers. The proposal for 205 houses on the green fields around Marsden Primary School could be just the start.

The Forum has worked hard to protect Whitburn and promote our Neighbourhood Plan, but its designation expires in March 2027. The Forum has also found that our planning policies and comments are not being properly addressed. Neighbourhood Forums have limited powers in the planning process, making it harder to challenge decisions.

A Parish Council would give Whitburn a stronger, lasting voice. A Parish Council is a statutory consultee, giving it a formal role in the planning process and ensuring its representations have to be formally considered.

The Stage 2 consultation on establishing a Parish Council closes on 23 November. Please take part and support a Parish Council for Whitburn. More information in our new blog post; link in the comments.

26/10/2026

Look out for the leaflets from South Tyneside Council about the second consultation on the proposal to establish a Whitburn Parish Council. They started delivering these to Whitburn residents over the past few days. The leaflets explain how to respond to the consultation, including by post.
There will also be a Council event on Thursday 12 November, from 1.30pm to 4.30pm at Whitburn Library, where you can find out more about the proposals and the consultation.
More information: https://haveyoursay.southtyneside.gov.uk/elections/whitburn-cgr-2/

26/10/2026

The results of the first consultation are in! 70% of respondents supported creating a Whitburn Parish Council.

South Tyneside Council has now opened the second stage of consultation. We encourage all residents to vote by 23 November.

The proposals include a parish covering the existing Whitburn Neighbourhood Area, 9–12 elected councillors and no separate parish wards.

The Forum has proposed a Lean Planning model based on an illustrative precept of £25 per household per year (around £2 a month), potentially raising £60,000 annually for Whitburn.

We are concerned that the first elections may not take place until May 2028, while the Forum’s designation expires in March 2027, leaving a large gap in local representation. We are asking residents to highlight this in Question 9 and request elections in May 2027, alongside the borough elections.

Links in the comments.

19/10/2026

We have submitted our response to the council’s local plan scoping consultation. Our key concerns are the encroachment onto Green Belt and open countryside, and the erosion of Whitburn’s distinctive village character and its unique setting in valued landscapes and seascapes.

We have called for growth in sustainable locations, prioritising brownfield land and regeneration, with a focus on development within and around the towns. New development must be supported by adequate sewage, schools, healthcare and transport infrastructure, with investment in nature, heritage, open spaces and landscape.

We have also called for stronger environmental assessment and meaningful engagement with the Forum throughout the plan-making process, including local engagement in Whitburn.

18/10/2026

REMINDER: Consultation on South Tyneside’s new Local Plan closes tomorrow!

Why does it matter? The new Local Plan will determine where development takes place. It needs to plan for 625 new houses a year, more than double the houses planned for in the current Local Plan.

The council is asking residents what matters to them, including housing and where it should go, Green Belt and agricultural land, nature and wildlife, transport and traffic, infrastructure, parks and public spaces.

This is your opportunity to raise your concerns and help shape the plan before decisions are made.

The consultation closes tomorrow midnight, Monday 19 October. Link is in the comments.

17/10/2026

11/10/2026

We have been reviewing the latest comments from statutory consultees and council teams on the proposed 205 homes on the field around Marsden Primary School.

The traffic consultants advising the council’s highway team found that the applicant's traffic model uses much shorter queues in the village centre than are actually observed. It has requested corrected modelling and further assessment.

The council’s ecologist has confirmed the site’s regional importance for curlew and is seeking independent ornithological advice on whether the proposed habitat compensation is adequate.

The Forum continues to object and will keep residents updated.

09/10/2026

Whitburn Windmill sails removed as ‘all options’ are being explored to replace them

06/10/2026

A sad week for Whitburn Windmill as its sails come down.
We have spoken to the Council to ensure the sails are stored properly and to explore options for external funding to restore them in the future.
Restoration is not something that can happen overnight, but it is disappointing that decades of lack of maintenance have left this important landmark in such a dire state of repair.