Frequently asked questions - Planning

Guidance for our customers on the Planning Service during Coronavirus (COVID-19).

There have been changes to how some of our services operate due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). For the latest up-to-date information please read our Planning Services Frequently Asked Questions - Covid-19 Guidance Document.

Latest announcements

Support for pubs, cafes and restaurants

Questions and advice

Before contacting us please read the information on our planning webpages as these may answer your query. We cannot give you advice on whether or not permission is required over the phone or by email because it takes time and further detail to assess this properly, for step by step advice read our Do I need planning permission guidance.

For the protection of residents and staff we do not currently have any front of house/reception facilities and the duty planner 'drop in' service is suspended. However the duty planner telephone service will be available from 9:30am - 4:30pm via the Customer Services number 0345 600 6400. You may be asked to leave a message if the duty planner is on another call so please include any application reference and your email address with your message so we can provide an informed response. 

To submit an application please use the Planning Portal (you will need to pay the fee via their website) or email application documents to us at planning@northumberland.gov.uk (download application forms, pay the fee online and include proof of payment/receipt number with your email). Please send documents electronically rather than by post, at this time we are consulting electronically so do not require hard copies of applications despite what the application form states.

Questions about specific applications should be directed to the Case Officer for that application. Their name can be found using the reference number on our Public Access system where you can also submit comments online. For anything else if you know the name of the person/team within Planning Services you need to contact please send your correspondence directly to them. View a list of email addresses for specific planning teams. If you are emailing us about a specific site or application please include the address/reference number so we can find it.

On this page we answer some of more common questions about Planning.

If you have looked through the planning web pages and the FAQs below and these still do not answer your query, you can contact us by phone or by email using the details lower down this page.

The telephone number and email contacts for our teams are provided below

If you are contacting us about a specific site or application please provide the address/planning reference number so we can find it and deal with your query more efficiently. Questions about specific applications should be directed to the Case Officer for that application. Their name can be found on our Public Access system using the reference number.

​It would assist us if you could use the email addresses below to contact us rather than by post or phone.

• Development Management (Planning Officers/Case Officers, planning decisions) planning@northumberland.gov.uk 
• Planning Enforcement - Report a breach of planning online (enforcement) or email planningenforcement@northumberland.gov.uk
• Central Registry Team (validation, invalid letters, neighbour consultations) planning@northumberland.gov.uk
• Planning Comments - Comment on a planning application online
• Conservation Team (listed buildings, conservation areas, ecology, archaeology, marine and coastal conservation, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) conservation@northumberland.gov.uk / archaeology@northumberland.gov.uk / marine.partnership@northumberland.gov.uk
• Planning Policy (Local Plan, current and emerging planning policies) planningstrategy@northumberland.gov.uk
• Neighbourhood Planning neighbourhoodplanning@northumberland.gov.uk
• Historic Planning Files (requests for information on an historic planning applications that cannot be found on Public Access) planningfilerequest@northumberland.gov.uk
• Highways Development Management team (planning applications for new highway development, associated transport and highways outcomes) highwaysplanning@northumberland.gov.uk
• If you don't know which team within Planning Services your query relates to please send your email to planning@northumberland.gov.uk and it will be distributed to the correct person/team. If you are emailing us about a specific site or application please include the address/reference number so we can find it.
• Developer and Agent forum - register or update your preferences
• Building Control is a seperate department to Planning. All queries relating to building regulations approval are dealt with by the council’s building control team. Contact details for each area team are provided on the building control pages.

For the protection of residents and staff we do not currently have any front of house/reception facilities and the duty planner 'drop in' service is suspended. However the duty planner telephone service will be available from 9:30am - 4:30pm via the Customer Services number 0345 600 6400. You may be asked to leave a message if the duty planner is on another call so please include any application reference and your email address with your message so we can provide an informed response. 

We aim to provide you with the best service that we can. If, for any reason, you are dissatisfied with any aspect of the planning process, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will try our best to help you.

We also welcome any general comments, feedback, suggestions or compliments. Any feedback that we receive is passed on to our staff members and is greatly appreciated.
 
To give feedback, provide your comments or suggestions, compliment our staff or process or make a formal complaint about any aspect of the service.

To use the council’s online forms for compliments and complaints click here.