Northumberland
England's most northerly county, featuring Northumberland National Park, the dramatic Kielder Forest, and the heritage of Hadrian's Wall.
Planning Permission in Northumberland
Planning permission in Northumberland is obtained from Northumberland Council for sites outside the national park boundary, or from the Northumberland National Park Authority for sites within the park. Northumberland Council is the unitary authority for the county and administers its planning service from offices in Ashington and Hexham.
Northumberland Council's planning pages provide access to its adopted Northumberland Local Plan (adopted 2023). This is a comprehensive plan that sets out the spatial strategy for housing, employment and infrastructure to 2036. Policy HOU3 (Self Build and Custom Housebuilding) directly addresses self-build, requiring the council to maintain a register and to grant sufficient planning permissions for serviced self-build plots to match register demand within three years. Policy QOP2 (Design Quality) is the primary design policy, requiring development to demonstrate high design quality that respects local character and makes a positive contribution to Northumberland's varied settlement patterns.
The Northumberland Design Guide, adopted alongside the Local Plan, is the primary reference document for residential design quality. It provides guidance on building scale, massing, materials, landscape integration and sustainability standards appropriate to Northumberland's diverse settlement types, from the stone-built market towns of the north to the former industrial settlements of the south-east.
Community Infrastructure Levy is charged by Northumberland Council at rates set out in its adopted CIL charging schedule. The council's schedule reflects the significant variations in land values across the county, with higher rates in the coastal and commuter areas of south and east Northumberland and lower rates in the more rural north and west. The self-build CIL exemption is available for qualifying applicants who intend to occupy the completed home as their principal residence for at least three years.
Northumberland National Park Authority's planning portal provides access to its adopted Northumberland National Park Local Plan (2015-2031). The park authority's planning policies are highly protective of the national park's natural beauty, cultural heritage and tranquillity. New residential development within the park is limited primarily to affordable housing for local community members, agricultural workers' dwellings and replacement buildings. The park authority's pre-application advice service is essential before any design investment for proposals within the national park boundary.
Validation requirements for Northumberland Council applications include a completed application form, location and site plans, a design and access statement referencing the Northumberland Design Guide, and the statutory fee. Additional site-specific requirements include a heritage impact assessment for sites near Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site or other designated heritage assets, an ecological survey for sites with potential for protected species including red squirrels, otters and protected bird species, and a landscape and visual impact assessment for sites in the AONB or open countryside.
Northumberland Council's planning pages provide access to its adopted Northumberland Local Plan (adopted 2023). This is a comprehensive plan that sets out the spatial strategy for housing, employment and infrastructure to 2036. Policy HOU3 (Self Build and Custom Housebuilding) directly addresses self-build, requiring the council to maintain a register and to grant sufficient planning permissions for serviced self-build plots to match register demand within three years. Policy QOP2 (Design Quality) is the primary design policy, requiring development to demonstrate high design quality that respects local character and makes a positive contribution to Northumberland's varied settlement patterns.
The Northumberland Design Guide, adopted alongside the Local Plan, is the primary reference document for residential design quality. It provides guidance on building scale, massing, materials, landscape integration and sustainability standards appropriate to Northumberland's diverse settlement types, from the stone-built market towns of the north to the former industrial settlements of the south-east.
Community Infrastructure Levy is charged by Northumberland Council at rates set out in its adopted CIL charging schedule. The council's schedule reflects the significant variations in land values across the county, with higher rates in the coastal and commuter areas of south and east Northumberland and lower rates in the more rural north and west. The self-build CIL exemption is available for qualifying applicants who intend to occupy the completed home as their principal residence for at least three years.
Northumberland National Park Authority's planning portal provides access to its adopted Northumberland National Park Local Plan (2015-2031). The park authority's planning policies are highly protective of the national park's natural beauty, cultural heritage and tranquillity. New residential development within the park is limited primarily to affordable housing for local community members, agricultural workers' dwellings and replacement buildings. The park authority's pre-application advice service is essential before any design investment for proposals within the national park boundary.
Validation requirements for Northumberland Council applications include a completed application form, location and site plans, a design and access statement referencing the Northumberland Design Guide, and the statutory fee. Additional site-specific requirements include a heritage impact assessment for sites near Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site or other designated heritage assets, an ecological survey for sites with potential for protected species including red squirrels, otters and protected bird species, and a landscape and visual impact assessment for sites in the AONB or open countryside.
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