Introduction

This guide was prepared by a regional partnership led by Durham County Council, and has been produced by the Llewelyn-Davies consultancy. Members of the partnership represent a wide range of interests within the region; developers, house builders, the professions, environmental bodies, utility companies, amenity societies, consumers, academia, regional and local government.

Following the completion of the guide, it has been adopted by SUSTAINE formerly the North East Roundtable on Sustainable Development. The membership of SUSTAINE includes many of the original partnership - the North East Assembly, One NorthEast, the Government Office for the North East, the Association of North East Councils, North East Chamber of Commerce, Environment Agency, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Northumbrian Water and the Universities.

With the overall aim of conserving and enhancing the unique and distinctive character of the North East, the Partnership commends this guide to everyone working in development and planning in the North East. We commit ourselves and our organisations to follow the principles and practices which it outlines and illustrates.

SUSTAINE has only been in existence for two years and in that time it has been working on a vision for a sustainable future for the North East. It has set out detailed objectives for progressing towards that vision in its document 'Towards a Regional Framework' published in January 2002. The Framework builds on work undertaken for the Regional Economic Strategy and the Regional Planning Guidance as well as regional strategies and plans to improve the region's environment and social well-being. It is intended that the Framework should provide one of the starting points for the review of key regional strategies produced by various partners.

The adoption of the Guide is a valuable step toward many of the objectives in the Vision for the Region

Vision for the North East - A region where present and future generations have a high quality of life: where there is an integrated approach to achieving social, economic and environmental goals; and where global responsibilities are recognised.