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What is Neighbourhood Planning?

Neighbourhood planning was introduced through the Localism Act in 2011 and gives communities the opportunity to shape and define how their area should grow and change in the future.

A Neighbourhood (Development) Plan enables communities to establish planning policies for the development and use of land in a neighbourhood. Certain formal steps have to be taken to comply with the legislation contained in the Localism Act 2011, including independent examination and a local referendum before the plan can be adopted by the Local Planning Authority and used to guide planning decisions.

In Northumberland National Park, this must be led by parish councils. There are 30 parish councils covering Northumberland National Park and all include at least some land which lies within Northumberland County Council’s Planning Authority. In most cases, therefore, communities wishing to pursue a Neighbourhood Plan will require support from both Planning Authorities. Information on Neighbourhood Planning at Northumberland County Council can be found here.

Current applications for Neighbourhood Areas

The designation of a neighbourhood area is the first formal stage in preparing a Neighbourhood Plan (see the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012).

There are no pending Neighbourhood Area applications in the Northumberland National Park.

Area Designations

Find out more about the areas designated for neighbourhood planning.

Haydon Bridge

Area Designation

Northumberland National Park Authority (NNPA) has designated the Haydon Bridge Neighbourhood Area for the purposes of Neighbourhood Planning under Section 61G(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended). The preparation of a Neighbourhood Development Plan will be steered by Haydon Parish Council.

The Authority’s decision only relates to the part of the Neighbourhood Area which is within the National Park boundary. The remaining part of the Neighbourhood Area lies within the administrative area of Northumberland County Council and the decision to designate that part of the area has been made by that Authority.

The application letters and maps can be viewed below:

Documents relating to the neighbourhood area designation can be viewed below:

Further information on the draft Neighbourhood Development Plan and how it is progressing can be found on the Haydon Bridge Neighbourhood Plan website at: http://www.haydon-bridge.co.uk/community-parishprojects.php

Mid-Coquetdale

Area Designation

Northumberland National Park Authority (NNPA) has designated the Mid-Coquetdale Neighbourhood Area for the purposes of Neighbourhood Planning under Section 61G(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended). Rothbury Parish Council has been recognised as the ‘Relevant Body’ to undertake the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan on behalf of themselves, Cartington Parish Council, Thropton Parish Council and Whitton and Tosson Parish Council. The Parish Council has established a steering group to oversee the preparation of their Neighbourhood Development Plan.

The application letters and maps can be viewed below:

Documents relating to the neighbourhood area designation can be viewed below:

Plan progress update – May 2017

In May 2017, the Steering Group decided to postpone progressing with the Neighbourhood Plan until the examination of the Northumberland Local Plan Core Strategy is concluded. You can find information in relation to the Core Strategy examination on Northumberland County Council’s website here.

Plan progress update – February 2018

As of 14th February 2018, the Parish Councils of Rothbury, Cartington, Thropton and Whitton and Tosson informed NCC and NNPA of their decision to cease work on the Mid Coquetdale Neighbourhood Plan and disband the Steering Group. The area will remain designated as a neighbourhood area, which would mean work on a neighbourhood plan for the designated area could recommence at a future date should the Parish Councils wish to do so.

Tarset and Greystead

Withdrawal

Tarset and Greystead Parish Council informed Northumberland National Park Authority and Northumberland County Council of the withdrawal of the Tarset and Greystead Neighbourhood Development Plan from examination on 20 January 2017. Consequently, the plan will not be proceeding to a referendum.

Independent Examination

An independent examination of the Tarset and Greystead Neighbourhood Development Plan was completed in January 2016. Northumberland National Park Authority subsequently engaged in discussions with the Parish Council and Northumberland County Council in deciding whether the plan should progress to a referendum.

Wooler

Referendum
Northumberland County Council, as lead authority, has considered each of the recommendations made by the independent examiner and has agreed to accept the recommendations.  This action has been agreed with Wooler Parish Council and the Northumberland National Park Authority.

Considering COVID-19 and updated government regulations the Wooler Neighbourhood Plan, as modified, will now proceed to a local referendum on 10 June 2021. The Plan will now be given significant weight in decision making.

The Referendum version of the Plan and related documents are available below:

Independent Examination
The independent examination of the Wooler Neighbourhood Plan has been completed. The report of the Independent Examiner was published on 26 May 2020.

Click here to view the report following Independent Examination

The publicity period for the Submission Draft Wooler Neighbourhood Plan ended on Monday 30 March 2020. Rosemary Kidd was appointed to carry out the independent examination of the draft Plan. The examination began on Friday 20 March 2020.

Northumberland County Council, Wooler Parish Council and the Northumberland National Park Authority prepared responses to the Independent Examiner’s Questions and Clarification note. These responses can be viewed below:

Click here to view the response on behalf of Northumberland National Park Authority

Area Designation

Northumberland National Park Authority (NNPA) has designated the Wooler Neighbourhood Area for the purposes of Neighbourhood Planning under Section 61G(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended). The preparation of a Neighbourhood Development Plan will be steered by Wooler Parish Council.

The Authority’s decision only relates to the part of the Neighbourhood Area which is within the National Park boundary. The remaining part of the Neighbourhood Area lies within the administrative area of Northumberland County Council and the decision to designate that part of the area has been made by that Authority.

The application letters and maps can be viewed below:

Documents relating to the neighbourhood area designation can be viewed below:

Further information on the draft Neighbourhood Development Plan and how it is progressing can be found on the Wooler Neighbourhood Plan website at: http://www.woolerneighbourhoodplan.org/