Urban planning
The Newcastle Urban Strategy (NUS) evolved over two years of consultation to develop a holistic approach to land use and urban design.
The Newcastle Urban Strategy was adopted in 1998 and has led to many positive changes in the urban landscape and Newcastle City Council’s policy framework, including:
- Community development and land conservation in the City's western corridor
- Introduction of the Newcastle Environmental Management Plan 2003 to progress environmental policies and programs and facilitate a systems approach to managing our natural resources
- Strengthening the role of the City Centre as a regional hub for administration, commercial and service activities as well as a place to live and recreate, while recognising the role of suburban centres as retail providers and a meeting place for local residents
- Completion and implementation of the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan 2003.
The NUS has been updated to reflect these and other significant changes that have occurred over the last seven years. The Strategy will continue to make Newcastle a sustainable, clean, green and friendly place in which to live, learn, work and play.
Download the Newcastle Urban Strategy (Update 2005) (1.88Mb pdf)
Direction
The NUS provides direction for the development and management of Newcastle over a 25 year period. It is also flexible to accommodate future economic trends and the social and environmental needs and aspirations of the community.
The Strategy’s key objective is to promote existing neighbourhoods as mixed use centres 'urban villages' with higher employment and housing densities than in the past, and with buildings and streetscape works that celebrate local identity and respect local character.
Strategy
At the core of the Newcastle Urban Strategy are:
- The principles of Newcastle Urbanism that establish an approach to urban growth, planning, management and urban design
- Strategy statements that establish Council’s approach to various matters such as place management, regional planning, transport planning and density.
The NUS describes where urban housing (terraces, villas, apartments etc) can be developed and sets out the maximum allowable site densities permitted in each residential density precinct.
Implementation
The NUS recognised the need to establish a new policy framework to implement the strategy. Five key projects were initially identified and are now in varying stages of completion:
A New Local Environmental Plan
The NUS provided the strategic framework for the Newcastle Local Environmental Plan (NLEP). The NLEP 2003 has been operating successfully to guide and control the use of land through zoning and facilitate the sustainable use of our land resource while reinforcing the importance of existing centres.
A city-wide development control plan
The Newcastle Development Control Plan (NDCP) 2005 is a comprehensive set of Council’s existing development control plans and forms the first stage in the framework to achieve Newcastle's vision for a sustainable built environment.
Establish capacity building tools to inform people about, and involve them in, the policy framework
The NUS identifies the need to:
- Generate understanding and support for Newcastle Urbanism
- Promote the benefits that mixed use development offers to Newcastle’s economy, social and cultural life and ecological stability
- Build partnerships with the community, other Councils, regional organisations and the State Government
- Involve the community in decision making.
The NUS identifies a range of tools to progress these outcomes. Some have been achieved (such as the establishment of a Lower Hunter Councils Transport Working Group) while others remain ongoing (for example, engaging in regular dialogue with local, regional and state organisations).
Review of financial mechanisms
The NUS identifies the need for Council to undertake a review of Section 94 plans to complement the NLEP 2003 and the NDCP 2005
Council continues to work towards these financial planning and management objectives.
Measure Newcastle’s progress towards becoming a sustainable City
Council actively measures air and water quality, levels of community involvement and influence on decision-making and the changing environment and community opinion to determine our progress toward sustainable urban form and a better quality of life.
Obtaining the document
Download the Newcastle Urban Strategy (Update 2005) (1.88Mb pdf)
For more detailed information and supporting documentation, refer to the Newcastle Urban Strategy Background Report (Update 2005) available from our Customer Enquiry Centre.
Both the Newcastle Urban Strategy (Update 2005) and the Newcastle Urban Strategy Background Report (Update 2005) can be purchased from our Customer Enquiry Centre. Purchases can be arranged by phoning 02 4974 2000.
