Member Article

Northumberland £11.2 million landscape initiative officially approved

Plans for Northumberland’s National Landscape Discovery Centre, The Sill, have been officially approved, providing Northumberland National Park Authority, YHA (England and Wales) and partners with a significant stride in their £11.2 million initiative.

The long-term economic benefits of The Sill predict above 100,000 visitors per annum, upwards of 117 new jobs created every year and a net impact of almost £3 million to the region.

A significant milestone has passed as the DCLG Planning Casework Team have decided not to call in the application, paving the way for planning consent to be granted as approved by the National Park Authority’s Development Management Committee on 18 September.

The plans for the new centre, which is to replace the existing 1960s Once Brewed facilities with a flagship visitor attraction, training and educational centre, were referred by a third party to be determined by the Secretary of State.

The Sill development phase has been driven forward by lead partners Northumberland National Park Authority and YHA (England and Wales), supported by funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Designs for The Sill were created by Architects’ Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall (JDDK), with Glen Kemp commissioned as Landscape Architects and Bright 3D designing the Interpretative space.

Consultation has played a huge part in a participative design process, with over 1,700 members of the public sharing their ideas and feedback.

The resulting Sill design is both sympathetic to the World Heritage Site landscape and forward-thinking in its vision.

Sill Project Director at Northumberland National Park Authority, Stuart Evans, said: “From the outset, The Sill project has involved the whole community, inviting people to participate and share their thoughts and feedback.

“We want to create a centre which everyone can be proud of.

“As part of the next stage of development, we want to continue this process and invite anyone who would like to contribute to come forward and help us realise the project’s full potential.

“Working together, we have such a wonderful opportunity through The Sill to compliment and support the excellent tourism offer in our region and open up the landscape to a whole new audience.”

Northumberland National Park Authority Chairman, Cllr John Riddle, said: “We are delighted plans for The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre can now move forward, as the Department for Communities and Local Government have confirmed that the Local Planning Authority can issue the planning approval.

“Receiving confirmation that the Department for Communities and Local Government does not wish to intervene is great news for the project.

“The long term gains of the project include economic growth and job creation which will offer a step-change benefit for the whole of the North East and then there are the benefits you just cannot put a price on – including the impact the project will have on young people from a training and educational perspective.

“I would like to thank everyone who has supported The Sill project to date and contributed throughout the extensive consultation process, to help shape plans for this exciting new development.”