Policy, development and PRoW

Policy relating to transport and public rights of way

• Policies around access, transport and public rights of way are set out in a number of documents:
• Tyne and Wear Local Transport Plan 2011-2021 (LTP3) details strategic transport policy.
• Tyne and Wear Rights of Way Improvement Plan (opens new window) (appendix D of LTP3), sets out strategic plans for public rights of way management and development.
• Sunderland Strategy 2008-2025 sets out a vision for how the aspirations of people who live work and study in Sunderland will be achieved through partnership.

Tyne and Wear access Forum (opens new window) is a statutory advisory body. It is facilitated by the five Tyne and Wear authorities to enable it to advise the local authorities and various other government agencies on improving access in the area. LAFs hold periodic meetings which are open to the public.

Developing land affected by public rights of way

The public rights of way network has always and will continue to evolve.

Public rights of way can sometimes be changed to enable development with planning consent to go ahead.

It is advisable to contact the public rights of way engineer at an early stage in order to obtain advice on the best way to handle public rights of way in relation to your proposed development.

You may need to deal with both recorded highway (public rights of way and adopted highway) and unrecorded but well used routes which may have acquired public right of way status under section 31 Highways Act 1980 (opens new window), or under common law.

Early consideration of public right of way and cycle route issues in the planning process can avoid costly delays, and can make them a valuable asset to the development.

Early planning on public rights of way and cycle route issues can make them an asset to development.