The Local Plan was submitted to the Secretary of State on 29 May 2019 and is currently undergoing independent examination.

Susan Heywood is the inspector appointed by the Secretary of State to carry out the examination and Stephen Normington has been appointed to assist with the examination of Chapter 13 (Managing Natural Resources) of the Local Plan. 
 
The inspector’s role is to determine whether or not the Local Plan is sound and complies with all the relevant legal requirements. In making this assessment, the inspector will take into account all the representations that were made on the Publication Draft of the Northumberland Local Plan.

Post examination hearings and main modifications to the plan
Following the close of the examination hearings, the Inspector has now written to the Council to confirm that whilst she considers the submitted Local Plan not to be sound, it is likely that it can be made sound by modifications.

• Click here to view the Inspector’s post hearings letter (dated 24 February 2021)

The Council’s proposed main modifications, the most recent being published in the Draft Schedule of Main Modifications (February 2021) [EX/NCC/224], have been considered by the Inspector. Without prejudice to the outcome of consultation on them and the conclusions of the final report, the Inspector is satisfied at this stage that they are all necessary to address soundness issues and will be effective in so doing.

The Inspector’s post hearings letter of 24 February 2021 also states that she considers some further main modifications are required to make the plan sound. In summary these are:

• To delete the safeguarded employment site at Prestwick Pit;
• To set out in Policy ECN 6 and the explanatory text the need for substantial planting along the boundaries between the Green Belt and the employment sites to be released from the Green Belt at Harwood Meadows, Prestwick Park and Prestwick Pit.
• To introduce a commitment to undertake an early update of the Plan in so far as it relates to the assessment of need for open space, sport and recreation facilities and the justification for the allocated Protected Open Space sites.

The Inspector will now be working with the Council, through the Programme Officer, to finalise the wording of the main modifications. Once the Inspector is satisfied with the wording of the proposed main modifications, she will confirm that consultation can go ahead on the proposed main modifications and will agree a timescale for the consultation with the Council.

Phase 2 examination hearings
A second phase of hearings took place 'virtually' in October and November 2020. These hearings covered the parts of the plan not considered in either the Phase 1 hearings or Chapter 13 hearings as well as matters outstanding from Phase 1.

• Click here for more information on the Phase 2 of the examination hearings

Phase 1 examination hearings
Phase 1 of the examination hearings took place in October 2019 and February 2020.

• Click here for more information on the Phase 1 of the examination hearings

A consultation on the additional evidence requested by the Inspector as a result of those hearing sessions took place between 13 July 2020 and 7 September 2020. The responses submitted were collated and forwarded to the Inspector ahead of the Phase 2 Hearings.

• Click here for more information on the additional evidence consultation

A further consultation will take place after the Phase 2 examination hearings on all 'Main Modifications' which the Inspector considers are required to ensure the soundness of the plan.

Chapter 13 examination hearings
The hearing sessions for Chapter 13 (Managing Natural Resources) took place in February 2020. A consultation on main modifications will take place after the completion of the Phase 2 examination hearings.

• Click here for more information on the Chapter 13 hearings

Further information on the Local Plan examination
Up-to-date information and documents relating to the examination, including the programme for the hearing sessions, can be found on the dedicated examination website.

• Click here to view the Examination website.

Drop-in sessions
During February and March 2019 a number of drop-in sessions were held across Northumberland to allow people to find out more about the Local Plan and how to provide their comments. The drop-in sessions included a small exhibition aimed at providing an overview of the Local Plan with staff involved in the preparation of the Local Plan present to help answer any questions.

• Click here to view the details of the dates, times and venues of the drop-in sessions.

The display material can be viewed by clicking on the links below:

• Display boards - Introduction and overview
• Display boards - Main Towns
• Display boards - Service Centres

Compliance documents
The Publication Draft Local Plan is accompanied by a number of 'compliance' documents, which can be viewed below.

• Equality Impact Assessment
• Habitats Regulations Assessment
• Health Impact Assessment
• Regulation 22 Consultation Statement
• Stage 1 Duty to Cooperate Statement of Common Ground
• Sustainability Appraisal Report and Appendices

Evidence base and other supporting documents
A number of background and research studies have been undertaken to help support and inform the preparation of the Local Plan. These studies and reports can be viewed on the following page on our website: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Planning/Planning-policy/Reports.aspx.

Monitoring and implementation framework

• Monitoring and Implementation Framework

A summary of the main dates for the preparation of the Local Plan are summarised below:

• Initial consultation - 28 March 2018 to 2 May 2018 (Complete)
• Consultation on draft Local Plan - 4 July 2018 to 15 August 2018 (Complete)
• Publication - 30 January 2019 to 13 March 2019 (Period for representations now closed)
• Submission - May 2019 (Submitted on 29 May 2019)
• Examination hearings - September 2019 (Phase 1 of the hearings took place in October 2019 and February 2020; Hearings for Chapter 13 (Managing natural resources) were held in early February 2020; and the dates and arrangements for Phase 2 of examination hearings are currently being discussed with the Inspector)
• Adoption - March 2021

The full timetable for the preparation of the viewed in the Local Development Scheme document.

In addition a separate Local Plan document in relation to Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople accommodation will be prepared. The main dates for the preparation of this document are summarised below:

• Initial consultation - May 2021
• Consultation on draft plan - September 2021
• Publication - January 2022
• Submission - May 2022
• Examination hearings - October 2022
• Adoption - March 2023

There will be opportunities to provide us with your comments at each of the key stages in the preparation of the Local Plan. If you would like to be notified of any relevant Local Plan consultations and be kept up-to-date with progress you can add your name to our database by either:

• Self-registering on our Online Consultation Portal (if you are already registered you do not need to register again);
• Emailing us at planningstrategy@northumberland.gov.uk with your full name, organisation/group (if applicable), full postal address and email address.

Further information on how the council will involve local people in preparing the Local Plan can be found in the Statement of Community Involvement document.

Consultation on a draft of the Northumberland Local Plan took place between 4 July 2018 and Wednesday 15 August 2018.

• Click here to view the consultation document and the comments submitted [opens consultation website]
• Click here to view the frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The comments received are currently being processed. We will consider all comments received in response to this consultation, and together with updated any evidence, they will be used to inform the ‘Publication Draft’ Local Plan where appropriate. This version of the Local Plan will be subject to public consultation in January 2019 before it is submitted for independent examination in May 2019.

Consultation document

• Northumberland Local Plan: Draft Plan for Regulation 18 Consultation (July 2018)
• Draft Policies Map - Interactive Online Map
• Draft Policies Map - PDF Version

Drop-in sessions
During the consultation a number of drop-in sessions were held across Northumberland to allow people to find out more about the consultation and how to provide their comments. The drop-in sessions included a small exhibition with staff involved in the preparation of the Local Plan present to help answer any questions.

Click here to view the details of the dates, times and venues of drop-in sessions for this consultation.

The display material can be viewed by clicking on the links below:

• Display boards - Introduction and overview
• Display boards - Main Towns
• Display boards - Service Centres

Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment
The draft Local Plan is accompanied by a Sustainability Appraisal Report and a Habitats Regulations Assessment and can be viewed below.

• Interim Sustainability Appraisal Report (June 2018)
• Habitats Regulations Assessment (July 2018)

Evidence base and other supporting documents
A number of background and research studies have been undertaken to help support and inform the preparation of the Local Plan. These studies and reports can be viewed on the following page on our main website: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Planning/Planning-policy/Reports.aspx.

A consultation to capture views on preferred strategic locations for housing and employment development and the big issues that the new Local Plan for Northumberland should seek to address took place between 28 March 2018 and 2 May 2018. The consultation took the form of an Online Spatial Survey.

Consultation feedback

This consultation provided some initial feedback on the key issues the Local Plan should consider and captured views on the broad strategic locations for both housing development and employment development. Along with the findings from various evidence base studies, the responses from this consultation have helped to inform a draft of the Local Plan.

A feedback report has been prepared to provide an overview of the consultation and a summary of the responses received in reply. View the Spring 2018 Consultation Feedback Report.

To help inform preparation of the new Northumberland Local Plan, residents, landowners, developers, agents and other interested parties were invited to put forward sites for potential development allocations in the Plan as part of a 'call for sites' consultation.

The consultation closed on 12 March 2018 and all of the submissions received have been assessed. This has informed the site selection process for site allocations in the emerging Local Plan and the updated Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) and five year housing land supply analysis. Updated SHLAA and five year housing land supply analysis was published in December 2018, which can be found on the studies and evidence page our website - https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Planning/Reports.aspx.

• View the SA Report (January 2019)
• View the SA Report appendices (January 2019)

• Click here to view the Interim SA Report (June 2018)

• Click here to view the draft SA Scoping Report

The purpose of the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) is to assess the possible effects of the Local Plan on the nature conservation interests of sites designated as Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Ramsar sites.

• Click here to view the Habitats Regulations Assessment for Regulation 19 Publication Draft Local Plan (December 2018)
• Click here to view the Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening for the Schedule of Proposed Minor Modifications (May 2019)
• Click here to view the Habitats Regulations Assessment for Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan (July 2018)

Northumberland Coastal Mitigation Service Strategy Document
We have been working with Natural England to review the approach to the assessment and management of impacts arising from new development on specially protected sites on the Northumberland Coast. This document introduces a strategic scheme funded by developers, and implemented by the Council, that will enable mitigation to be provided within the designated sites themselves, in a consistent manner along the whole of the Northumberland Coast.

• Northumberland Coastal Mitigation Service Strategy Document (December 2018)

A Duty to Cooperate Statement of Common Ground has been prepared to accompany the Regulation 19 Publication Draft Local Plan. It sets out the strategic issues relevant to Northumberland and details the ongoing engagement that has, and continues, to take place between Northumberland County Council (NCC), neighbouring authorities and prescribed bodies. The statement is a live document reflecting the progress of discussions that have taken place up to December 2018 and will be updated for the submission of the Local Plan for examination in May 2019.

• Stage 1 Duty to Cooperate Statement of Common Ground (December 2018)

Links to the Duty to Cooperate Statement that was prepared to accompany the Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan consultation are provided below:

• Northumberland Local Plan Duty to Cooperate Statement (July 2018)
• Appendix 1: Northumberland Local Plan Core Strategy Duty to Cooperate Statement (March 2017)

The Northumberland Core Strategy was submitted to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for independent examination on 7 April 2017.

At the Council meeting on 5 July 2017, Northumberland County Council agreed to formally withdraw the Core Strategy from the independent examination process. A Statement of Withdrawal, Frequently Asked Questions and Papers from the Council Meeting can be viewed accordingly.

Following a review, the Council has agreed that a full Local Plan document will be prepared and the Council will no longer be proceeding with the Core Strategy as well as the proposed Delivery Document.

• View the letter from Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (16 November 2017)

The Council made a full response in line with the deadline set by Government.  The response letter and related correspondence can be viewed below:

• Response letter from Northumberland County Council (31 January 2018)
• Technical appendix
• Appendices

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government wrote to the council on 23 March 2017 to confirm there are no plans intervene or take further action at the present time. This is subject to the timetable in the Local Development Scheme being amended to produce the plan earlier and to be clearer about the dates for the key milestones by identifying specific months. 

• Letter from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (23 March 2018)

The council is currently reviewing the Local Development Scheme to take into account the recommendations of the Secretary of State. A revised Local Development Scheme will be published in due course. 

Consultation on scoping documents for a proposed Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and a proposed Planning Obligations SPD is taking place until 5pm on 6 November 2019. Further information can be found using the links below:

• Click here to view the Affordable Housing SPD Scoping document consultation
• Click here to view the Planning Obligations SPD Scoping document consultation

Comments were invited on scoping documents for a Northumberland Design Guide SPD and a Highways and Transportation Design and Delivery SPD from 30 January 2019 to 13 March 2019. The consultation documents can be viewed by clicking on the links below.

• Click here to view the Northumberland Design Guide SPD Scoping Document and comments submitted
• Click here to view the Highways and Transportation Design and Delivery SPD Scoping Document and comments submitted

• Renewable Energy SPD Scoping Document (June 2016)