The following are major applications currently being considered by the Council. Click on the application(s) you are interested in to get more information.

Housing

A major issue in the district at present is the extent of housing land supply. Policy at national and regional level which the district Council must observe will result, if not changed, in a significant reduction in housebuilding in the district over the years up to 2021. This is causing more acute problems of affordability in the housing market than is already the case. To plan for this the District Council through its core strategy (see item below) is looking to manage housing development to prioritise the development of brownfield sites and ensure that the supply of housing is phased. The core strategy also includes a policy to ensure that sufficient affordable houses are avaliable to meet local housing need within the district over the next 5 years. If you have a proposal to develop a new house or houses you are strongly advised to discuss your proposal with a planning officer before you submit a planning application. Otherwise you could incur fees for an application which will simply be refused.

Local Development Framework

We are making progress with the switch from the Alnwick District Wide Local Plan to the new Local Development Framework which will be the basis for considering all applications in the period up to 2021. The first documents to be produced sets the broad strategy for planning in the district and are the "core strategy" and district wide DC policy documents. The final stage of consultation on the core strategy took place for six weeks from 14th December 2006. An Independent Examination into the responses to this consultation will take place from 4th July 2007. The district wide development control policies documents will be submitted for a final consultation period in August 2007. It is anticipated that a independent examination will be held in February 2008.

Conservation Area Appraisals

The ten conservation areas of Alnwick, Alnmouth, Eglingham, Felton, Glanton, Lesbury, Newton on the Moor, Rothbury, Whittingham and Warkworth underwent assessment in 2006 and boundaries were re-designated in October 2006.

Work has now commenced on analysing a further seven areas for the possible conservation area designation. (Whitton, Craster, Embleton, Rock, Amble, Guyzance and Boulmer). These areas will undergo a process of assessment and public consultation and if appropriate final designations will be made in September 2007.

Renewables

Interest in renewable energy schemes and particularly windfarms continues and there are 2 major proposals within the District for windfarms at Middlemoor, North Charlton and at Ray, south of the A696 in the south of the District.

Because both these applications are over 50MW generating capacity they are being determined by the Department of Trade and Industry. Alnwick District Council is however a major consultee and recently determined its position on both windfarms.

In respect of the Ray windfarm, only part of which is in Alnwick District, the council resolved not to object to the scheme. In respect of Middlemoor the council has decided to object on grounds of landscape impact and this means that a public inquiry is automatically triggered. (For further details regarding the timing of any inquiry interested persons should contact Gary.Mohammed@dti.gsi.gov.uk)