Member Article

Northumberland National Park invites you to have your say on its future planning and development goals

Northumberland National Park Authority sets the policies which control the future of development within the National Park, one of England’s finest landscapes.

It is hosting eight consultation events throughout the Park to give local people and businesses the opportunity to have their say on how the Park should develop over the next 20 years.

Following an extensive consultation with over 700 people who live, work and visit the Park earlier this year, the National Park Authority has prepared a draft paper outlining options for the redesign of its local planning policies to ensure they are fit for the future.

Glen Sanderson, chairman of Northumberland National Park Authority, explains:

“We have a specific responsibility to maintain a balance between the need for new development in the Park which will help maintain thriving communities in our uplands, with the need to protect the natural, historical and built environment of this special place.

“To do this effectively, it’s vital for us to have a Local Plan in place that will ensure all future investment and development meets agreed objectives for the benefit of the landscape and our communities.

“I’d like to thank everyone for their input so far, their comments have been instrumental in helping to identify a range of key issues including the provision of community services, affordable housing and job creation.

“This stage of the process is a key time for people to get involved, we want to know what people think our future planning guidelines should be as we seek to establish the detailed policies for the draft Plan when it is published next summer.”

There are eight public consultation drop-in events taking place during October and November at venues throughout the Park. The sessions aim to give local communities an opportunity to share their views and discuss the emerging planning policy options.

Local Plan consultation dates and venues (all sessions open from 4:30pm to 8:30pm):

• 18 October: Harbottle Village Hall, Harbottle, NE65 7DG
• 24 October: Elsdon Village Hall, Elsdon, NE19 1AB
• 1 November: Bardon Mill Village Hall, Hexham, NE47 7DX
• 8 November: Cheviot Centre, Padgepool Place, Wooler, NE71 6BL
• 15 November: Bellingham Town Hall, Bellingham, NE48 2AS
• 22 November: Otterburn Memorial Hall, Main Street, Otterburn, NE19 1NP
• 29 November: Matthew Ridley Memorial Hall, Falstone, Hexham, NE48 1AA
• 6 December: The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre, Bardon Mill, NE47 7AN

For further information email: localplan@nnpa.org.uk or visit the website at: www.nnpa.org.uk/localplanconsultation.

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