More than 50 parish councils are involved in neighbourhood planning in Northumberland. Some of these have created Neighbourhood Plans involving Valued Landscapes of varying types and designations. Some of these aim to replicate the Area of High Landscape Values that previously existed under five of the six former district councils within Northumberland, but whose designations of which did not meet requirements when being combined and reviewed following local government reform.
Neighbourhood planning is a way for local communities to shape the development of the area in which they live. Through preparing a neighbourhood plan, the community can set out a locally driven vision and policies for how land should be used, protected, or developed.
Once complete, a neighbourhood plan will sit alongside the County Council’s Local Plan and will be used to make decisions on planning applications.
For more information on Neighbourhood Planning, please visit https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning-policy/neighbourhood-planning.