Berwick-upon-Tweed Town and Tweed Estuary Study
Statement 3 (October 2006)

The first phase of work towards a 20 year vision and development framework for Berwick-upon-Tweed (often and previously referred to as the Berwick Master Plan) is now concluded. A document, The Future of Berwick: Vision and Development Framework, has now been produced. Regional, sub regional and local partners who commissioned consultants to undertake the work have welcomed the study. The partners endorse the vision for Berwick of ‘a competitive, distinctive and well-connected Border town that is enterprising, ambitious and inclusive’ and welcome a set of very positive objectives that will, if delivered, lead to an economic “step change” and rejuvenation not only of the town but also the Borough of the Berwick-upon-Tweed.

An important stage in developing and realising the vision and plans for the future of Berwick has now been reached. A draft Core Strategy, the first Development Plan Document in the Borough’s Local Development Framework (LDF) is being prepared and will be the subject of community consultation in the near future. The Core Strategy sets out an integrated programme of regeneration activity, based upon clear spatial priorities, and this has been informed by the Vision and Development Framework preparation. Conservation Area Character Appraisals and Management Strategies have also been commissioned and prepared for Berwick-upon-Tweed, Tweedmouth and Spittal. This work will provide the basis for the protection and enhancement of the Conservation Areas in the future, inform policies in the Core Strategy and provide the basis for future LDF documents.

The partners have recognised that these three streams of work link closely together and that residents are keen to see what the reports say. So rather than having three separate consultation strands on the Core Strategy, The Future of Berwick Vision and Development Framework (Master Plan) and the Conservation Area Character Appraisals we plan to bring these strands together to increase understanding and to help explain the linkages between the documents and their proposals.

All three documents will be launched at one event in early December 2006; this launch will be followed by a programme of consultation events which will take place in January and February 2007. We hope that by running a series of events in different locations and with different themes we will be able to hear from as many people as possible about their views on how sustainable regeneration of the town and Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed should be delivered. The partners now have copies of the Future of Berwick: Vision and Development Framework on CD-Rom and an early copy can be obtained from Sharon Laidlaw on 01289 301785.

Much work still needs to be done. Whilst Phase 1 of the Vision and Development Framework sets out some illustrative proposals for development these can only be treated as indicative at this stage. A second phase to develop this work, which will be commissioned, will lead to the production of a clear framework for public and private investment in the study area. It will test and set out site specific options to deliver the 20 year vision. Ultimately design and development briefs for specific target sites and areas and will be produced taking account of feedback from the planned consultation. The vision is not just a physical or spatial master planning exercise and the phase 2 work will also explore people and skills projects required as part of the overall approach to achieve the vision Additional work on developing sustained capacity of stakeholders and future delivery mechanisms is also ongoing to ensure that the opportunities identified can be delivered over the coming years.

You can download a report, The future of Berwick, here. the file is 113mb and requires Adobe PDF Reader.