A NORTH-EAST suburb has been selected to pilot a planning and design process.
Walker Riverside, in Newcastle, is one of only six areas taking part in the scheme, selected from across the UK by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
Called design coding, it aims to find ways of speeding up the construction of homes without compromising design and quality.
The codes will be unique to each area and will provide detailed requirements for any future planning applications there, including issues such as street layout, height and number of buildings.
In this way, it hopes to remove many of the problems that can delay a planning application.
Plans are still at an early stage, but include the regeneration of existing homes, up to 2,500 new family homes and improved leisure facilities, shops and open spaces.
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