Local Plan complete ahead of time
30 May 2019 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
The Northumberland Local Plan has been completed ahead of time and is being delivered to Government this week for its independent inspection phase.
Northumberland County Council set an ambitious target of getting the full submission plan to the Planning Inspectorate by the end of May, and it is arriving there this week, well inside the 31st deadline.
Set to enable the creation of 15,000 new jobs in the county by 2036 the plan has been developed to grow and diversify the economy of Northumberland.
It includes all of the main planning policies for the county, and maps out where new homes will be built, new jobs created and new services provided.
Aiming to protect the Green Belt from major new housing development and preserving the special qualities of Northumberland it also identifies where new services and infrastructure are needed to support communities.
Councillor Peter Jackson, leader of Northumberland County Council said: “We said that we would deliver a local plan by March 2020 and this submission to Government is a key milestone in achieving that.
“Through the plan we will ensure that Northumberland is a great place to live, work and visit, and that we truly address the future needs of our county.
“The plan sends a strong message that Northumberland has ambitious plans for growth, while also protecting everything that is special about the area.
“We are very optimistic about the prospects for our county and we will make sure that Northumberland works for everyone and for all of our communities.”
Councillor John Riddle, cabinet member for housing, planning and resilience at the council added: “Through this plan we are setting out clear policies on how we will meet the future economic and housing needs of the county.
“We know that having a plan in place is important to Northumberland communities and we have put a number of measures in place to accelerate its production.
“We want to see the right development in the right places. We want to provide homes for all, and extend choice in the housing market, but are not proposing any new housing allocations in the Green Belt.”
Examination hearings by an independent planning inspector are expected to take place this September, with full adoption of the plan scheduled for March 2020.