Page created 14/10/26
Last updated 17/10/26
I believe that Prudhoe (& elsewhere) needs more homes.
The right type, number and location, these should be homes for the future not just houses everywhere for the sake of meeting this Government’s targets.
Northumberland is unique in so many ways and this should be preserved as far as possible.
This is what I will be fighting for in the months and years ahead.
Settlements should not merge into one, this would lose local pride and identity.
Local people or those with clear local links should be given preferential treatment for social housing or discounted market value houses.
See Courant report – CLICK HERE
Our County boundary should keep a clear distance from other areas such as Gateshead. ie with fields, streams & wooded areas between us.
What is the local plan ?
The Local Plan sets the main planning policies for Northumberland.
The Local Plan, along with ‘made’ Neighbourhood Plans, forms our statutory development plan. Together these set the rules for where and how new development can happen in Northumberland.
Town & parish councils need to complete their neighbourhood plans as a matter of urgency.
Local Councils urged to create Neighbourhood plans (Dec 24) via Chronicle CLICK HERE
The Northumberland Local plan.
The NEW Local plan – CLICK HERE ** The very important info**
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What is the HELAA?
The Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment (HELAA) is a high-level, constraints focussed, technical study that assesses the potential sites put forward for consideration, to support future housing and employment and economic development.
The HELAA is NOT a policy document. It does not allocate sites for development and does not grant planning permission.
What do the colours mean?
Green and amber are considered to be potentially developable. Green sites have fewer/less constraints and fewer uncertainties than the amber sites. Red sites are considered to have significant constraints which suggest that they are not developable.
How will the HELAA be used?
As a new Local Plan is prepared, the amount of housing and employment land required across different parts of Northumberland will be established. Where there is an identified need for housing and/or employment land, sites in the HELAA will be subject to further assessment. The most appropriate site in each location to meet Local Plan objectives will be selected for allocation.
There is far more land put forward for consideration in the HELAA than will be required. Therefore, only a small proportion of the sites identified in the HELAA will be allocated in the plan.
Can I have my say?
As a technical assessment, the HELAA is not subject to consultation. However, any sites proposed to be allocated for development will be subject to consultation through the plan making process.
Please see here for a list of FAQs relating to the HELAA.
Please see the sites identified for Prudhoe-
A link to the map CLICK HERE
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13/10/26
This Government’s new housing targets for Northumberland mean the county will have to build the equivalent of Blyth, Morpeth, Berwick and Haltwhistle over the next two decades,
Northumberland will need to build 1,760 new homes a year under the new proposals.
“Local authorities have always had to prepare a local plan – but this time round it is very different.
There is going to be fundamental changes and a massive increase in house building in Northumberland.
Nearly 22,000 houses across the Hexham constituency alone have been indicated by developers in the recent call for sites.
“The greenbelt protection has been removed.
People are going to see houses built in huge numbers in areas they never thought possible.
“Just to put it into context, the new target means we will have to build more than 34,000 houses over the life of the new plan.
“We need people to get involved and take ownership.
The figures below show that developers have shown interest in building houses in the various areas.
Caveat – There is no guarantee that they will progress this to planning applications.
These massive changes are not something I nor the administration at NCC County hall believe are needed, but something we oppose and have had forced upon us (and other local authorities) by this Governments obsession.
As always I will keep people informed, this will be a complicated and long running process.
