Longhorsley Neighbourhood Plan – Shaping Longhorsley
NOTE: Links are underlined but the text is black rather than blue.
Go to the top level Longhorsley Neighbourhood Plan page.
You can view, print and download the full Shaping Longhorsley briefing note here or view it below.
1. What has been happening?
Over the last 3 years we have sought your views in a number of ways, including attendance at a consultation event and the completion of forms, to support the development of the Longhorsley Neighbourhood Plan (LNP). This has enabled us to identify the local issues which are important to you. Some of your issues will be addressed through the parish council’s Community Action Plan that will sit alongside the LNP. We have used what you have told us to develop a draft vision and objectives for the LNP and to create what we see as the main topics for planning policies to include in the LNP.
The LNP is going to be YOUR plan for YOUR parish. It is a new type of plan prepared under the Localism Act where the local community is in ‘the driving seat’. A steering group from the parish council is preparing the plan but an essential part of the process is that you, as members of the local community, continue to be fully engaged.
This briefing note sets out the topics which are the focus of this consultation. We are seeking your views on these topics and on how our thinking is shaping up, prior to drafting the plan itself. You will find details of how to give us your feedback at the end of this document.
Objectives for the Neighbourhood Plan
In summer last year, your input helped the steering group to refine and finalise the objectives for the plan, which are as follows
To outline levels of housing development across the parish to contribute to local housing needs, whilst protecting the green belt and environmental beauty of our area
To conserve or enhance the landscape setting, biodiversity and heritage of the village
To support and encourage local business to thrive
To support and protect our key community facilities
To work with Northumberland County Council to provide safer roads and footpaths for better transport for the parish
Note that all maps referred to below are available to view on this webpage. You can also come along to the drop-in sessions, described at the end of this leaflet, to look at large scale, hard copy versions and to discuss preparation of the Plan with members of the Steering Group.
These are two maps that will be available to view at the drop-in sessions.
Click on them to view the high definition PDF versions.
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Longhorsley Parish:
Longhorsley Village:
2. Development Strategy
This section of the LNP and the policy it contains will be at the heart of the plan. A key feature of the strategy will be to define a clear Settlement Boundary to Longhorsley village. We propose that it should provide for continued sustainable growth whilst taking into account the extent of development already allowed. The intention is to create planning policies for managing development in the parish, during and beyond the completion of sites which have already been granted permission. In addition to these permitted sites, it is proposed that the plan should support small-scale growth within the Settlement Boundary. The Plan will propose certain exceptional circumstances where development may be allowed outside of the Settlement Boundary.
Green Belt
The LNP will seek to support the proposed Green Belt and Inset Boundaries defined within the emerging Northumberland Local Plan Core Strategy. These would provide for an extension of the Green Belt north of Morpeth, and align the Green Belt, Inset and Settlement Boundaries for Longhorsley village.
Settlement Boundary
You can see the map below, or by coming along to a drop in session.
The proposed “Inset” boundary, which aligns with the proposed Settlement Boundary, has been agreed between Northumberland County Council (NCC) and the parish council. It was published in the NCC Core Strategy, pre-submission draft, in September 2015 and was shared with those residents who receive the Tree, as well as being published on their website by NCC. It attracted 3 comments. It takes into account the most recent areas of change in Longhorsley, i.e. permitted developments at Wilding Place and the Shoulder of Mutton sites. The Settlement Boundary will be the cornerstone of the LNP. Given its importance, we are particularly interested in your views of it.
View Longhorsley Settlement Boundary in a larger map
Accommodating Development
The County Council’s 5 year housing land supply report (2016 to 2021) includes the planning permission granted for 106 dwellings in the parish. It is our intention that Sites where planning permission has been granted, and those where development is underway but not yet completed, will be shown in the LNP. There are no currently approved plans beyond these 106 dwellings. Any additional residential development in the plan period will be classed as “windfall”. As an indication of future development scale, there have been 3 such windfall sites, each with a single dwelling, built in the planning period to date (2011 to 2016).
Focus of Development
It will be proposed that developments allowed within the Settlement Boundary, after the current large sites are built, will be small-scale and will need to meet design policy for the village, to be defined in the LNP. These will ensure development is in keeping with the local area. Outside of the Settlement Boundary, it will be proposed that new developments will need to meet the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the emerging Core Strategy criteria for development within the Green Belt and, in addition, be associated with an existing hamlet, farm steading or similar site.
The LNP will also propose that developments to be permitted within Longhorsley will typically be for: housing; local business development (including tourism) or infrastructure associated with leisure, recreational pursuits; and social, community and educational activities.
3. Managing Housing
Meeting housing requirements
It is a requirement of the NPPF that the Northumberland County Council (NCC) 5 Year Housing Land Supply Report provides for 5 years of housing supply as a minimum. The 2016 to 2021 report provides for 6.2 years across the county and 8.2 years for the area within which Longhorsley sits.
The planned, permitted developments within Longhorsley over the period 2011 to 2031 mean that it will have grown its housing stock by 28.6%. Continued growth at that level would not be sustainable, and the LNP will propose a much lower level of development over the years to come.
Attaining the right balance of growth in any community is always challenging and, again, here particularly your views are being sought.
Developments
The map below indicates those development sites with permission for 92 dwellings within the Settlement Boundary. There are a further 9 dwellings with permission to be completed outside of the Settlement Boundary. Another 5 dwellings have already been completed within the parish.
Affordable Housing
Affordable housing is being provided as part of the recent development at Wilding Place and will also be a part of any development on the Shoulder of Mutton site. It is not expected that
any future developments would be of a scale (greater than 10 dwellings) to require that further affordable housing be provided.
Design Policy
The LNP will propose a policy, under which, all, appropriate, developments within the parish will follow a design code. This is necessary to ensure;
The evolutionary and historical context of the village is reflected in new properties.
The distinctive and defining spatial and built character of the parish is maintained.
Current housing needs, building technology and building regulation is complemented with guidance on site layout, landscape and design of amenity spaces and built form
An example design code was that produced for the “Shoulder of Mutton site”; “Design code for Land at Oaklea, Longhorsley ‘Bigges Quarter’”. If you would like to understand what a design code might look like for a new development you can view this document here.
There would be a similar but more specific, design code for any developments within the Longhorsley Conservation Area.
A map of the conservation area is available below.
View this map full screen here.
The Longhorsley Conservation Area is also shown at NCC Digital Maps - select Conservation
4. Supporting Business
The following statistics (taken from Northumberland Knowledge 2011 Census Ward Fact Sheet) were used to shape thinking on how we should support businesses and those within the community who work.
Those who are “economically active” in the parish represents 70% of the population and 75% of these use their own automotive transport to travel to work. 15% work at home, which is slightly higher than the national average.
The workforce largely comprises Management, professional and highly skilled workers, representing 70% of those who work. They work across a number of market segments but
the main ones (with more than 10%) are Human Health and Social Work, Education, and Wholesale & Retail.
The parish council strongly supports the growth and development of small businesses of all types throughout the parish. Particular support will be proposed through the plan for tourism related activity, but also for businesses started by people looking initially, or permanently, to work from home, provided that such use of the property meets other environmental considerations. The parish council will seek also, through the LNP and Community Action Plan, to encourage growth in the number of people working at home. This will improve the quality of life of the parishioners as well as contributing to a more sustainable environment for all.
It is proposed that the LNP will contain policies to support the sensitive growth of tourism. These policies will be developed to facilitate existing farmsteads, homesteads and small settlements with plans for small-scale, increases in permanent build tourist accommodation.
New build business space and tourism facilities in these locations, including extensions to existing businesses, will be supported if they are linked to existing employment development or a farm diversification scheme, within reasonable environmental limits.
The LNP will propose that the construction of new permanent buildings for tourist accommodation will be permitted only in locations within or adjoining existing settlements.
It is intended that the LNP would provide support for proposals for new small-scale camping, chalet and caravan developments, and for additional space or accommodation at existing sites in accessible areas, including areas of open countryside provided;
they are, or can be, adequately and effectively screened; and
they conform to the development principles of the LNP.
Please let us have feedback on our proposals for supporting local businesses
5. Supporting Community Facilities
Assets
The LNP will identify two assets within the parish which the parish council wishes to protect and preserve. These are the Shoulder of Mutton public house and the Village Hall. The Parish Council intends to submit an application to the County Council to register these as ‘Assets of Community Value’. Provided that they are accepted onto the register, in the event of a move to sell the assets, the parish council and the wider community would have an opportunity to bid to take these over themselves or through some third party.
Local Green Spaces
Preparing a neighbourhood plan provides an opportunity for the Parish Council to designate Local Green Spaces (LGS) for protection against development. These must be shown to be
demonstrably special to the local community they serve. We intend to identify a number of our local open spaces, sport and recreational spaces as LGS. The parish council has an ongoing plan to monitor and maintain these spaces and has assigned resources to monitor and maintain safe environments. The following LGS are being evaluated for designation for protection:
Longhorsley Moor – Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
Amenity green spaces in Whitegates
Amenity green spaces in East Road
Amenity green spaces in Church View
Playing field
School field
St Helen’s churchyard and cemetery
Children’s playground in Church View
Adamson Park
Archie’s Pond
Barbara’s Wood
The MUGA (sports facility)
Allotments are not classed as Local Green Space but it is proposed that they will be protected as allotments in the LNP.
Please let us know, in your feedback, if you disagree with any of the areas identified, and/or of any other local green spaces which you would wish to be considered for inclusion.
The parish council will continue to support the above green spaces and, in addition, seek to add and improve other communal facilities wherever this is appropriate and attainable. An example of this is the proposal to develop a new play area on the East side of the village, to be funded by developments there.
6. Conserving Landscape, Biodiversity and Heritage
The parish council is committed to preserving and improving the beautiful environment we all share. This will be done through the use of existing national and local policies as well as through new policies in the LNP and the council’s Community Action Plan. The following describes the particular areas of focus for the parish council, some of which it is proposed to further protect through policies in the LNP.
Longhorsley Moor
The parish council is the guardian of Longhorsley Moor on behalf of Natural England. It is an SSSI and as such requires a significant effort to maintain the land, livestock and naturally occurring flora and fauna. The site has been upgraded to provide a trail which local residents can use for leisure and exercise. The parish council will continue to maintain this important site and to protect it.
“Barbara’s Wood”
The parish council has purchased the field west of the old church, known as Barbara's Wood as a community asset, to be conserved and to improve the access for the enjoyment of those in the parish. New woodland has been planted which will be cared for and improved to provide a pleasant broadleaf wood in the future, which will improve the wildlife habitat, be an educational resource, and provide an attractive place to visit. This field has strong historical connections with the village and it is hoped to enhance this and provide more information in the future.
The parish council is considering the renaming of this area. The initial proposal is to call it the Elledge, which would be a return to the field’s historic name. Perhaps you would like to suggest another alternative for the parish council to consider when you complete your feedback?
Significant Views
The LNP will consider creating planning policies aimed at protecting the significant views available throughout the parish. These consist primarily of :
Views to the East towards the coast, which is designated as both an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a Special Area of Conservation;
Views to the North and West of the Cheviot, which is designated both as part of the Northumberland National Park and a further Special Area of Conservation;
Views over the Longhorsley Moor, designated as an SSSI;
Views of the built environment where these contain heritage architecture
Landscape Character Assessment
Longhorsley has been assessed as having a land character type of “Lowland Rolling Farmland” (Northumberland Landscape Character Assessment - 2010). The Character Assessment document’s proposal for this landscape is “Where key qualities are intact, their long-term viability should be secured, and where these are damaged, the approach for this landscape is to manage their restoration and replacement”
The LNP will be guided by the Assessment and its advice for conserving the landscape. Some particular examples are drawn out here to further support the principles which are intended to underpin the LNP’s policies and proposals.
“Encourage a greater uptake of woodland grants to bring seminatural woodlands back into active management where they have suffered from neglect”. – As per Barbara’s Wood and work on the Moor
“Where larger-scale developments are proposed, it may be appropriate to develop a design brief” – As per design codes for Wilding Place and the Shoulder of Mutton developments
“Encourage the establishment of strong settlement boundaries as part of any new development” – This will be a key principle of the LNP.
Footpaths
The parish council’s Community Action Plan will contain measures to protect and improve existing footpaths, and it will be a proposed condition of any new developments that they support and extend this network around the village, wherever appropriate. In particular, there are plans to protect and improve the Lonnen path to the old church and to provide access to it from the Shoulder of Mutton.
Longhorsley parish has a good network of Public Rights Of Way (PROW) which the Village Walking Group surveyed in 2015, and reported problems to the council. It is hoped to continue this work on an annual basis and form circular walks where possible. Use of the paths is actively encouraged, and this valuable amenity will be publicised so that more can enjoy the wonderful views and ecology on our doorstep.
We are aware that many of you have chosen to live in the parish because of its beauty and environment so please take time to let us have your feedback on whether our proposals are
appropriate.
7. Safer Transport
The parish council and NCC continue to work together to improve the safety of those travelling within the parish. There are two particular issues to address locally;
Protecting those using and crossing the A697, particularly within the village, which has a poor safety record.
Improving the hard paving provision around the village, which does not exist in some places and is damaged in others.
Through policy to be proposed in the LNP and working with developers, the parish council will seek to ensure that developments which have access or egress with the A697 are safe. In particular, that they include appropriate measures (e.g. limiting the speed into and out of new developments and providing additional safe crossing points).
The parish council will also work with developers and other bodies to provide additional footpaths (e.g. from the new Shoulder of Mutton site to the centre of the village and out to the Forget-Me-Not caravan park) and to improve those which exist at present.
8. Next Steps
The LNP will eventually become a legal document and will provide our local community with a strong voice in future planning decisions affecting our environment. It has to be produced according to strict national guidelines and, as you will have observed, the process is not a swift one. However, we aim to have a plan ready to submit to NCC before the end of this year. Below we have set out the steps we need to go through and where we are seeking your input.
Provide us with your feedback now on the outline topics proposed for the plan in this briefing note. (See below for details how to do this).
We will write the plan based upon legislative requirements, your input, and that of other stakeholders
We will share the draft plan with you and again seek your views (in summer of this year)
We will revise the plan based on your comments and submit it to NCC
NCC will publish the plan for a final 6 week consultation
The plan will be examined by an independent examiner
NCC will finalise the plan based on the examiners recommendations and it will be published by NCC, together with their decision
NCC will arrange a local Referendum in which everyone on the Electoral Register within the Parish will have a vote and, provided over 50% of those voting support the plan it will be ‘made’ by NCC and become part of the statutory development plan
9. Feedback
You can give us your feedback now by;
Completing and returning the form on the last page of the 'Shaping Longhorsley' briefing note to a box in Millar’s shop, Albion Hairdressers or the Shoulder of Mutton
OR
Fill in the same form but do it online below
AND / OR
Come along to the drop in sessions and talk to us about your views and leave feedback there.
These will be held in St Helen’s church during the day (noon ‘til 3pm) and evening (6 ‘til 9 pm) of the 22nd February.
There will be refreshments of tea and cake for the afternoon session and cheese and wine for the evening one.
Don’t forget to complete your contact details, on the last section, if you want to be entered into the prize draws.
The closing date for all feedback during this consultation is the 1st of March 2017.