The Green Belt in Northumberland forms part of a wider area of Green Belt designation surrounding the conurbation of Tyne and Wear. Since the original designation in 1963, the Green Belt in Northumberland has undergone a number of modifications, with areas being added to as well as removed from the Green Belt. This Northumberland Local Plan consolidates the boundaries defined in the Local Plans and Core Strategies of the former Tynedale, Castle Morpeth and Wansbeck districts, and the Borough of Blyth Valley, and identifies the detailed boundaries of the Green Belt around Morpeth. The Northumberland Local Plan identifies the full extent of the revised Green Belt in Northumberland, as defined on the Policies Map.
For a full copy of the policy, including proper formatting, please visit the Northumberland Local Plan (Adopted March 2022). The below version is included for reference only. Please note that this Local Plan only covers Northumberland as a Local Planning Authority, so excludes Northumberland National Park where the Northumberland National Park Authority are the Local Planning Authority.
Policy STP 7: Strategic approach to the Green Belt (Strategic Policy)
1. The Green Belt within Northumberland will be protected to:
a. Check the unrestricted sprawl of Tyne and Wear;
b. Safeguard the countryside from encroachment;
c. Prevent the merging of: Newcastle upon Tyne with Ponteland, Newcastle Airport, or Cramlington; and North Tyneside with Cramlington or Blyth;
d. Preserve the setting and special character of Hexham, Corbridge and Morpeth;
e. Prevent Morpeth merging with neighbouring settlements;
f. Prevent the merger of rural settlements; and
g. Assist in the regeneration of settlements in South East Northumberland beyond the Green Belt.