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Coronavirus update – Planning Service – 30th March 2020

In line with Government advice and to keep our staff and customers safe, our offices at Eastburn are now closed. However our planning team can still be contacted via email [email protected]. We will continue to process planning applications which have already been submitted. If you are submitting a new application please do so electronically through the planning portal website. We are unlikely to be able to deal efficiently with planning applications received by post or paid for by cheque.

Due to our offices being closed there is likely to be a delay in receiving any letters or documents sent by post.  Please send all correspondence to [email protected]. If you have sent anything to the planning department within the last week please can you email [email protected] so that a colleague can contact you.

We are continuing to progress pre-application enquiries but can only accept online BACS payment. We would appreciate the submission of site photographs so that our officers do not need to visit your property.

For the latest government guidance concerning planning appeals please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-planning-inspectorate-guidance

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Northumberland National Park Authority, as the Local Planning Authority, makes decisions on applications for many types of development. These decisions are made either by meetings of the Development Management Committee or by the Authority’s officers under the delegated powers approved by the Authority in June 2015 under the Scheme of Delegation.

Submitting a planning application

The best way to submit a planning application is online via the Planning Portal. Once registered on the Planning Portal you may then make an application online, upload relevant supporting documents and create a site location plan electronically. The Portal will calculate the total fee payable for your application which you may then pay online. Once completed your application and will then be automatically forwarded to Northumberland National Park Authority.

Submitting an application

To submit your application manually please provide the appropriate completed application form, supporting documents and fee by post, email or in person to:

Northumberland National Park Authority
Eastburn
South Park
Hexham
Northumberland
NE46 1BS

Email: [email protected]

Application fees are set out in our Guide to Planning Fees and are payable at the time of application by cash, cheque to ‘Northumberland National Park Authority’ or BACS transfer (details of these are set out on Guide to Planning Fees).

Unfortunately, we do not currently have the facilities to take payments by card or over the phone.

What information do I need to provide?

In order to make an informed decision on your application this must be accompanied by the right information. This information must fulfil a number of national information requirements as well as the Authority’s own local information requirements.

The Authority has a number of Validation Checklists which set out in full the information required to support each type of planning application. Please refer to the relevant checklist for a list of required documents. Application forms and guidance notes to assist their completion are also available to download from the Validation Checklist page.

How long will it take?

If your application is submitted with insufficient or inadequate information then this may be registered as invalid. If this is the case you will receive a letter explaining what additional information is required in order to validate your application. Please note that the Authority will not begin considering your application until this is valid. If this additional information required by the Authority is not received within 28 days then your application may be returned.

Following submission of a valid application, you will receive an acknowledgement letter with the statutory timescales for making a decision that applies to your application. Most planning applications are determined within 8 weeks unless they are classed as ‘major applications’, in which case the time limit is extended to 13 weeks. Applications for prior approval are normally processed within 28 days of receipt but may in some cases be subject to the statutory 8 or 13-week time limits, depending on the nature of the application.