Acklington and Cresswell Neighbourhood Plans officially ‘made’
25 Mar 2025
Residents of Acklington and Cresswell Parishes now have more of a say over future development in their local areas.
The two Neighbourhood Plans were formally made by Northumberland County Council on 12 March 2025. They now form part of the statutory development plan for the County, which means that planning decisions in these parishes will be made in line with policies in the Plans, unless ‘material considerations’ indicate otherwise.
Local referendums held in each Parish last month returned majority votes in favour of Northumberland County Council using the Neighbourhood Plans to help decide planning applications in their local areas.
The Plans were prepared by the Acklington and Cresswell Parish Councils respectively, with the involvement and support of their local communities.
A spokesperson for Northumberland County Council said:
"Neighbourhood Plans give communities real power in the planning process. These pieces of work are led by the communities, allowing them to prioritise what they think is important to the area. They are a testament to the hard work of many dedicated people in these community.
“The Plans will give each Parish the ability to shape the growth of their community.”
Each Plan provides a local approach to development proposals in the area and they include policies to address a range of planning issues identified by the local community.
The Acklington Neighbourhood Plan, which has 7 policies, ensures that development respects the character of the area, introduces a principal residency restriction for Guyzance Conservation Area, supports new and existing local services and community facilities, provides protection for the natural environment, designates areas of Local Green Space and ensures protection for the historic environment.
The Cresswell Neighbourhood Plan, which has 2 policies, protects locally-valued green spaces and sets out the approach to tourism development in the parish.
Work is underway on the preparation of neighbourhood plans in over 20 other parishes across Northumberland, while 30 neighbourhood plans are now in place.
The Neighbourhood Planning Team continues to provide dedicated help and practical support to all the local parish councils involved in neighbourhood planning.