Duty to Cooperate Statement of Common Ground and Statement of Compliance

Northumberland Local Plan Submission Draft Plan (Regulation 22)

May 2019

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Contents 1. Introduction 4 2. The legislative and procedural requirements of the Duty to Cooperate 5 3. Relevant Parties 7 4. Strategic context of the North East of England 10 5. Profile of Northumberland County 14 6. Governance arrangements 15 7. Strategic Planning Matters 27 8. Local plan production current position 38 9. Working together in the future 40

Figures 1. Northumberland’s neighbouring authorities 9 2. North East : transport links 13 3. Regional Governance 16 4. Transport Governance Structure 19 5. Governance for Strategic Planning in the North East 22 6. Local Authority housing requirements 29 7. Progress on Local Plans 38

Appendices Appendix 1 - Statements of Common Ground with neighbouring Local Planning Authorities and Prescribed Bodies (May 2019)

Appendix 2 - Memorandum of Understanding Duty to Cooperate Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland, Durham, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland Councils (June 2014)

Appendix 3 - Northumberland Local Plan Publication Draft Plan (Regulation 19) Duty to Cooperate Statement of Common Ground (December 2018)

Appendix 4 - Northumberland Local Plan Draft Plan for Regulation 18 Consultation Duty to Cooperate Statement (July 2018)

Appendix 5 - Northumberland Local Plan: Core Strategy Draft Plan Duty to Cooperate Statements (March 2017)

Appendix 7 - North of Tyne Position Statement North Tyneside Local Plan Examination in Public (November 2016)

Appendix 8 - Duty to Cooperate minutes referenced in Statements of Common Ground (Appendix 1)

1. Introduction

1.1. This Statement of Common Ground and Compliance has been prepared to accompany the Submission Draft (Regulation 22) Northumberland Local Plan and forms part of the evidence base for the Plan. The statement demonstrates how the Council has complied, and continues to comply with the requirements of the Duty to Cooperate. It sets out the regional context and strategic issues relevant to planning in Northumberland and details the governance arrangements and ongoing engagement that has taken place, and continues to take place between Northumberland County Council (NCC), neighbouring authorities and prescribed bodies. Appendix 1 contains the individual statements of common ground with each authority and prescribed body. The statements with the local authority partners sit within the context of the Memorandum of Understanding Duty to Co operate Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland, Durham, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland Councils signed in 2014 found at Appendix 2.

This statement is a live document reflecting the progress of work that has taken place up to May 2019 and will be reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis as necessary.

1.2. This statement provides an update to the following statements; ■ Northumberland Local Plan Publication Draft Plan (Regulation 19) Duty to Cooperate Statement of Common Ground December 2018 found at Appendix 3; ■ Northumberland Local Plan Draft Plan for Regulation 18 Consultation Duty to Cooperate statement July 2018 found at Appendix 4; ■ Northumberland Local Plan : Core Strategy Draft Plan Duty to Cooperate statement March 2017. This was prepared to accompany the, now withdrawn, Northumberland Local Plan Core Strategy (NLPCS). The new Northumberland Local Plan rolls forward significant aspects of the evidence and joint working that was undertaken for the NLPCS and therefore the joint cross boundary strategic work recorded in the March 2017 statement is still relevant. The new Northumberland Local Plan has therefore been influenced by previous work undertaken and agreements made between neighbouring authorities and key stakeholders. This is found at Appendix 5.

2. The legislative and procedural requirements of the Duty to Cooperate

Localism Act

2.1. The Duty to Cooperate was introduced through the Localism Act 20111 and is set out in section 33A of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. It places a legal duty on local planning authorities and county councils in England, together with prescribed public bodies, to engage constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis to maximise the effectiveness of local plan and marine plan preparation in the context of strategic cross boundary matters.

2.2 In February 2017, the Government introduced the proposition that all Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) be required to prepare a ‘Statement of Common Ground’ (SoCG) to help manage strategic planning matters across local authority areas and strengthen the Duty to Cooperate. Further details of this proposal were set out in the consultation document, published in September 20172 and are now formally included in the revised 2019 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and National Planning Policy Guidance (NPPG).

National Planning Policy Framework (February 2019)

2.3 Paragraph 25 of the NPPF prescribes that “strategic policy-making authorities should collaborate to identify the relevant strategic matters which they need to address in their plans. They should also engage with their local communities and relevant bodies including Local Enterprise Partnerships, Local Nature Partnerships, the Marine Management Organisation, county councils, infrastructure providers, elected Mayors and combined authorities (in cases where Mayors or combined authorities do not have plan-making powers)”3.

2.4 Paragraph 26 states that “effective and on-going joint working between strategic policy-making authorities and relevant bodies is integral to the production of a positively prepared and justified strategy. In particular, joint working should help to determine where additional infrastructure is necessary, and whether development needs that cannot be met wholly within a particular plan area could be met elsewhere”4.

1 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/20/section/110/enacted 2 Planning for the right homes in the right places: consultation proposals. Published 14 September 2017 3 National Planning Policy Framework February 2019, paragraph 25 4 National Planning Policy Framework February 2019, paragraph 26

2.5 As required by Paragraph 27 “In order to demonstrate effective and ongoing joint working, strategic policy making authorities should prepare and maintain one or more statements of common ground, documenting the cross-boundary matters being addressed and progress in cooperating to address these”5.

National Planning Policy Guidance

2.6 Strategic policy-making authorities are required to cooperate with each other, and other bodies, when preparing, or supporting the preparation of policies which address strategic matters. This includes those policies contained in local plans (including minerals and waste plans), spatial development strategies, and marine plans6.

2.7 A statement of common ground is “a written record of the progress made by strategic policy-making authorities during the process of planning for strategic cross-boundary matters. It documents where effective co-operation is and is not happening throughout the plan-making process, and is a way of demonstrating at examination that plans are deliverable over the plan period, and based on effective joint working across local authority boundaries. In the case of local planning authorities, it also forms part of the evidence required to demonstrate that they have complied with the duty to cooperate”7.

What does the Duty to Cooperate mean in practice?

2.8 The duty requires LPA officers and members to engage in proactive and sustained joint working to address strategic issues that cut across administrative boundaries from the outset of Local Plan preparation and come to agreements on solutions where possible. Consultation alone is unlikely to satisfy the requirements of the duty. It also requires LPAs to consider joint approaches to plan making, evidence gathering and infrastructure planning. There is no definitive list of actions that constitute effective cooperation under the duty. Nevertheless, parties must attempt to resolve strategic issues.

2.9 The Duty to Cooperate is both a legal and a soundness test, and LPAs are required to submit details at Local Plan examination of how they have complied with the duty.

5 National Planning Policy Framework February 2019, paragraph 27 6 National Planning Policy Guidance, Paragraph: 001 Reference ID: 61-001-20180913 7 National Planning Policy Guidance, Paragraph: 002 Reference ID: 61-002-20180913 6

2.10 The requirement for statement of common ground therefore operates in tandem with the ‘tests of soundness’. These are used at local plan examinations to ensure that there is not only a proactive and positive approach to strategic planning matters across housing market areas, but that there is a clear (and agreed) approach to how these will be delivered in all relevant local plans. The test most specific to the Duty requires plans to be:

Effective – deliverable over the plan period, and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic matters that have been dealt with rather than deferred, as evidenced by the statement of common ground.

3. Relevant Parties

3.1. In the case of Northumberland County Council the Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) affected by the duty, are the following ten neighbouring LPAs with whom SoCG have been produced - see Appendix 1 for the statements and Figure 1 for a map : ■ Newcastle City Council; ■ North Tyneside Council; ■ Northumberland National Park Authority; ■ Gateshead Council; ■ Durham County Council; ■ Carlisle City Council; ■ Eden District Council; ■ Cumbria County Council; ■ Scottish Borders Council; and ■ South East Scotland Development Planning Authority (SESplan).

3.2 In addition, Northumberland is a member of the North East Joint Transport Committee and North East Local Economic Partnership which cover the North East and North of Tyne Combined Authority areas. Therefore the County works closely also with Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside City Council.

3.3 The prescribed bodies with which LPAs must cooperate are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 20128. LPAs must cooperate with these bodies on issues of common concern in order to develop sound local plans; ● the Environment Agency; ● Historic England; ● Natural England; ● the Civil Aviation Authority; ● Homes England;

8 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/767/regulation/4/made 7

● Clinical Commissioning Groups ● the Office of Rail and Road; ● Integrated Transport Authority; ● Highways Authority; ● the Marine Management Organisation ● Local Enterprise Partnerships and ● Local Nature Partnerships9 3.4 Paragraph 25 of the NPPF places a clear requirement that strategic policymaking bodies should: “engage with their local communities and relevant bodies including Local Enterprise Partnerships, Local Nature Partnerships, the Marine Management Organisation, county councils, infrastructure providers, elected Mayors and combined authorities (in cases where Mayors or combined authorities do not have plan-making powers)”.

9 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/2613/regulation/2/made 8

Figure 1: Northumberland’s neighbouring authorities

4. Strategic context of the North East of England

4.1. The North East region 10 includes the seven local authority areas of Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, Durham, South Tyneside and Sunderland - these are commonly referred to as ‘LA7’. The area has a population of almost 2 million residents (Mid-2017 Population Estimates), with 1.24 million (63%) of residents being of working age (aged between 16-64). Around 950,000 residents in the region are economically active, and the region accommodates around 880,000 jobs. Population and jobs are spread across the region, with a higher density of development within the five Tyne and Wear Local Authority areas (Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council), Durham City, and south east Northumberland.

4.2 The A1 and A19 corridors along with the urban cores of the Tyne & Wear conurbation and Durham City remain the key employment foci for the region. Although it is also acknowledged that there are other key locations away from the Tyne and Wear urban cores. Current planning and economic growth policies and proposals protect and expand on these locations and opportunities. Additionally the new Enterprise Zone sites along the A19, North Bank of the River Tyne and at the Port of Blyth along with potential accelerated development zones, offer opportunities to boost regional growth.

4.3. In considering appropriate geographies for joint working in respect of economic matters, the authorities in the region recognised that there is no standard approach to defining functional economic market areas. PPG (Paragraph: 019 Reference ID:61-019-20190315) suggests it is possible to define them by taking into account factors including: ● The extent of any Local Enterprise Partnership ● Travel to work areas ● Housing market areas ● Flow of goods, services and information within the local economy ● Service market for consumers ● Administrative areas ● Catchment areas of facilities providing cultural and social well-being ● Transport networks

4.4 Functional economic market areas therefore vary according to economic sectors, due to the heterogeneous nature of local economies. For the purposes of planning for strategic economic growth objectives and investment into the region it is appropriate to work at the North East LEP area level, comprising the seven north east local authorities - this is the basis of working with the grain of the Strategic Economic Plan. Although, naturally

10 The North East LEP has contiguous boundaries with this region. 10

the strength of these economic relationships vary across the region between local authority areas for example economic links are stronger between Northumberland and Newcastle and North Tyneside than they are with South Tyneside. The influence of the local labour markets may be best represented through consideration of travel to work areas which have been accounted for in production of Local Plans. However, when considering the supply of commercial sites and premises, particularly in terms of meeting the needs of smaller and locally-based operators, it is appropriate to also consider smaller geographical scales which is applicable, for example, to Northumberland’s analysis of demand for industrial and commercial land. The joint work in respect of jobs and the economy has been undertaken with each of these spatial geographies in mind - particularly in consideration of impacts of development plan proposals on neighbouring authorities.

4.5. The North East region covers an area of around 7,900 sq km , and as such several discrete housing market areas can be identified, often reflecting the administrative boundaries of the constituent local authorities. Nonetheless, there are several instances of housing market areas which cross administrative boundaries. Emerging and adopted Local Plans have responded to evidence of housing market areas, either by preparing joint planning documents, or through cross- boundary cooperation on identifying and planning to meet housing needs. The local authorities’ most recent Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) consider a range of relevant information, including travel to work areas, house prices and affordability and patterns of household migration to define housing market areas.

4.6 The SHMAs conclude that: ■ Sunderland can be considered to represent an appropriate housing market area; ■ County Durham represents an appropriate housing market area for the purposes of Local Plan policy making; ■ Gateshead and Newcastle are considered to share a housing market area. ■ Newcastle is also part of a housing market area with North Tyneside; ■ North Tyneside is part of a wider housing market area that includes Newcastle and south east Northumberland; ■ Northumberland can be described as a largely self-contained housing market area. The Northumberland SHMA (comprising a 2015 SHMA and 2018 partial update) concludes there are seven areas within Northumberland which function as “fairly self-contained housing market sub-areas”, and also acknowledges a relationship between Northumberland and neighbouring areas, in particular North Tyneside, Newcastle, Gateshead, Durham, Carlisle, and the Scottish Borders.

■ The 2013 South Tyneside SHMA considers South Tyneside to represent a self- contained housing market area in terms of migration, which forms part of a wider functional housing market area that extends into Sunderland, Newcastle and Gateshead in terms of travel to work.

Transport

4.7 The North East is a well-defined economic region with a transport network which consists of strategic road and rail links, ports and Newcastle Airport, plus an extensive network of local roads, bus and local rail/Metro services (Figure 2). There are two north-south corridors, one runs along the coast and the other further inland. The inland corridor includes the A1 and A1 (M) and the East Coast Main Line, providing the link between Scotland and the south. The coastal corridor includes the A19 and Durham Coast rail line. East west links are less well developed but include the A69 to Carlisle and the M6. The Ports include Berwick Upon Tweed, Blyth, Tyne, and Sunderland, handling cargo and passengers with proximity to northern europe. Effective transport networks are a key to economic growth and opportunity for all, providing access to jobs and facilities for all sections of society and in promoting sustainable patterns of activity, development and movement within the Region and beyond.

4.8 The North East Combined Authority (NECA) produced a transport manifesto in 2016 which acknowledged the importance of working together to meet people’s needs in the context of transport networks that cross council boundaries. A unified approach is taken to the consideration of development proposals that impinge on neighbouring areas, and on the approach to public transport corridors. Councils seek to make sure that development and regeneration plans effectively plan for transport and take account of the ability to change between different forms of transport. The North of Tyne Combined Authority (NOTC) and NECA are preparing a revised draft Transport Plan for the area.

Figure 2: North East : transport links

11https://www.nelep.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/North-East-SEP-FINAL-March-2017.pdf 13

Environment

4.9 The natural environment is recognised as one of the Region’s key assets. The North East is rich in biodiversity and geodiversity; it contains many of the UK’s most important habitats, species and geological features, and includes the Durham Coast Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Northumbria Coast Special Protection Area (SPA) and the Northumberland National Park. The conservation of biodiversity, and the natural resources on which we all depend, is a key element of sustainable development. The authorities in the North East do not consider these assets in isolation, they are considered as an integral part of the natural and nature conservation resource across the region. Councils are working to protect, create, restore and maintain high quality and attractive environments in their policy making and decisions on development.

5. Profile of Northumberland

5.1 Northumberland is England’s northernmost County, stretching from the Scottish Borders in the north and west, to Tyneside and County Durham in the south (Figure 1). Northumberland County Council is the largest unitary authority in England by geographic coverage and is also the most sparsely populated with only 63 people per square kilometre. Northumberland remains largely rural with the most sizeable settlements having no more than 45,000 residents. Northumberland County Council has the largest area of Green Belt of any Local Planning Authority in England.

5.2 The Spatial Portrait of Northumberland is set out in Chapter 2 of the Submission Draft (Regulation 22) Northumberland Local Plan. Northumberland's relationship to the Tyne and Wear conurbation, and to a lesser extent the areas beyond the north and west of the County, means that a number of key opportunities and challenges are shared including: ■ the population profile of Northumberland is ageing and policy seeks to stem the decline in the working age population to provide a labour force for existing and future employers, ■ the skills of the workforce and the quality of jobs require improvement, as does productivity - in Northumberlands case this is to improve economic activity in the south of the County and provide access to work in rural areas, ■ the need to provide a mix of housing that will support the diverse needs of the current and future population, ■ the need to ensure good transport, broadband and telecommunications connections, ■ the need to ensure that an adequate supply of minerals supports the economic ambitions of the area as well as waste minimisation and

support for renewable energy and these are balanced with landscape, heritage and amenity considerations.

5.3 Northumberland County Council shares administrative boundaries with ten LPA’s (Figure 1) with whom it cooperates under the requirements of the Duty and who are signatories to this SoCG. Northumberland County Council is a partner authority in the Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mayoral Combined Authority referred to as the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NOTC). It was previously part of the North East Combined Authority (NECA) . Northumberland County Council is part of the North East Local Economic Partnership (NELEP), which embraces the seven North East Local Authority Areas of Northumberland, North Tyneside, Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside.

6. Governance arrangements

6.1 The North East of England has a long history of successful joint working and collaborative plan-making in respect of strategic planning and transport matters. The 2008 Regional Spatial Strategy was the last regional plan in North East England. It has been followed by other positive examples of joint plan-making in the region albeit on a smaller scale. Since the abolition of regional planning in England other partnerships have formed to govern and influence cross boundary strategic planning. The creation of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP) in 2011 and the North East Combined Authority (NECA) in 2014 formalised these working relationships. The NECA brought together the seven Councils which serve County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland to support the work of the NELEP with powers over transport, economic development and regeneration. In the far north, the Borderlands Initiative has recently cemented cross boundary working with Scottish authorities.

6.2 On 2 November 2018 the Government agreed to devolve powers and funding, to form a new Mayoral-led North of Tyne Combined Authority covering Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle local authorities12 . The North East Combined Authority geography was reduced and is now, made up of the four local authorities south of the Tyne: Durham, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland. Transport matters for the North East region are overseen by all seven local authorities via a single joint committee, while the North East LEP continues to advocate for the region as a whole. This is explained below in Figure 3.

12 By the Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland Combined Authority (Establishment and Functions Order) 2018 the boundaries of NECA were changed on 2 November 2018 15

Figure 3: Regional Governance Seven Northumberland County Council Durham County Council Local Newcastle City Council Gateshead Council Authorities North Tyneside Council South Tyneside Council (LA7) Sunderland City Council

Two Northumberland Combined County Council Authorities Newcastle City Council Durham County Council North Tyneside Gateshead Council Council South Tyneside Council Sunderland City Council

One Transport North East Joint Transport Committee Committee

One Local Enterprise Partnership

North of Tyne Mayoral Combined Authority (NOTC) / North East Combined Authority (NECA)

6.3 NECA has devolved powers in relation to transport, economic development and regeneration whilst NTCA has devolved powers in relation to transport, housing and regeneration (concurrent with the Homes and Communities Agency), skills and training and the ability to establish a Mayoral development corporation. Some powers in respect of these matters are still shared with the Councils. A Deed of Co operation between the respective authorities relating to the Transport Joint Committee and the North East LEP has been agreed13. The two combined authorities will therefore work together on a number of matters to support the region, including Transport, and Economic Development. All seven local Authorities will remain members of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, the North East Joint Transport Committee, and support Invest North East England which co ordinates business investment inquiries for the region. Elections in May 2019 appointed the first North of Tyne Combined Authority Mayor. Planning

13 Deed of Co-operation relating to the Transport Joint Committee and the North East LEP 4/7/18 16

powers have not been devolved from the constituent local authorities to either of the combined authorities.

6.4 The initial focus of the North of Tyne Combined Authority was set out in the Deal agreed with government in November 2017. This identifies six priority “portfolios”:

● Economic Growth ● Business Competitiveness ● Place & Productivity ● Education & Improvement ● Employability and Inclusion ● Housing and Land

6.5 Northumberland County Council participates fully in each of these portfolios and has lead responsibility for the Place & Productivity and Education & Improvement Portfolios. Northumberland is also the lead on rural housing provision, with the Combined Authority recently adopting Northumberland’s rural housing priorities:

● Sustainability – recognising the role of housing in supporting the broader sustainability of villages and smaller settlements. ● Housing affordability – key challenge for people living in Northumberland’s rural communities. ● Increase in second and holiday homes – bring financial benefits to rural areas but non-permanent occupancy means that some settlements can lose a sense of community and loss of critical services due to homes being empty when not in use. ● Digital access and exclusion – older demographics and lack of high speed broadband and mobile phone networks was leading to increase in digital gap between urban and rural areas. ● Ageing population – increasing more quickly in rural areas than in urban communities. ● Employment – rural areas generally lower paid and often seasonal. ● Building in rural areas – higher than normal costs for land and main services, labour, specialist materials to meet planning requirements and transporting materials. ● Pursuing funding opportunities to build upon the Communities Can, establishing a North of Tyne hub and using the allocation received through the community housing fund to facilitate community led housing.

6.6 While the governance arrangements for sub regional working change over time , the relationships and commitment to effective co operation for the benefit of all in the region persist. Withdrawal from the North East Combined

Authority has not meant the end of cooperation with the four authorities to the south of the River Tyne; the “LA7” regional partnership, facilitated by NELEP, brings officers from all seven of the region’s councils together to collaborate over economic, transport, infrastructure and planning priorities. Northumberland County Council is active in each of these networks.

North East Joint Transport Committee

6.7 The North East Joint Transport Committee brings together a total of seven members from each of the Constituent Authorities of the region; four Members from the North East Combined Authority and three Members from the North of Tyne Combined Authority. Transport is of critical strategic importance to the North East, and the collaborative working of both Combined Authorities allows effective decision making across the region, which ensures that the local needs and priorities are delivered. The single joint transport committee: ● Provides leadership and a united voice on key strategic transport issue. ● Links strategic transport planning with economic priorities. ● Provides strong representation on transport issues of national significance including rail, air travel, strategic road network and our ports. ● Provides more effective coordination and enables improvement to the area’s public transport network.

6.8 The LA7 is supported by a Heads of Transport Officers Group and a range of sub-groups including Strategic Highways, Sustainable Transport, and Technical Analysis. The Heads of Transport group meets on a monthly basis and ensure a strategic approach to the development of transport policy for the seven authorities taking cognisance of current and emerging land use priorities. In 2019, the LA7, through the NEJTC, will prepare a joint transport plan for the next 20 years which will aim to provide affordable, attractive, reliable, safe, healthy transport choices for businesses, residents and visitors while enhancing the environment.

6.9 The governance structure for transport is detailed in the following diagram Figure 4: Transport Governance Structure. Nexus is the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive.

Figure 4: Transport Governance Structure

North East Rail Management Unit

6.10 The North East Rail Management Unit (NERMU) meets monthly and comprises the 13 North East Councils, the relevant combined authorities, North Yorkshire County Council, Cumbria County Council, Nexus and Network Rail. The meetings alternate between planning and performance management with all train operators in the North East attending the performance management meeting. NERMU has a role in managing the Northern and Trans-Pennine rail franchises and acts as a conduit between the Councils and the rail industry.

North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP)

6.11 The NELEP covers the seven local authority areas of Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, Durham, South Tyneside and Sunderland. A strategic vehicle led by the private sector, it is responsible for promoting economic growth in the North East.

6.12 The NELEP has set out the vision for the area to become ‘Europe’s premier location for low carbon, sustainable, knowledge-based private sector-led growth and jobs’. Local Authorities across the NELEP area are committed to supporting growth and acknowledge how the labour market and supply chains are linked across the wider area, including cross-NELEP links with Tees Valley.

6.13 One of the main areas of work since the establishment of the NELEP has been the preparation of the Strategic Economic Plan (SEP)14 for the North East which has involved partnership working between the private, public and voluntary sectors. The SEP sets out a vision and investment programme for the area to 2024 with the aim of strengthening the area’s economy and providing more opportunities for businesses and communities. It’s overarching vision is to deliver 60,000 private sector jobs and provide over 100,000 jobs in total across the NELEP area. In March 2014, the NELEP published its SEP. The SEP was updated in January 2019 with a focus on providing updated data and considering new policy drivers rather than a new strategy. It records that up to December 2018 64,600 new jobs had been provided across the area, of these 49,600 were ‘better’ jobs classed as managerial, professional and technical.

6.14 The development plans in the region reflect the vision and investment programme of the SEP and contain key policies for its delivery.

6.15 NELEP is also leading on the development of a local industrial strategy (LIS) for the region which is being informed by the economic priorities of the seven councils and two combined authorities. The LEP is collating evidence from each council and commissioning a productivity study to articulate the region’s sectoral strategy and response to the government’s “Grand Challenges” of the National Industrial Strategy.

6.16 LEP partners have recently collaborated to produce the region’s response to the government’s National Infrastructure Assessment and the priorities for building a digital society, low cost and low carbon energy, revolutionising road transport, transport and housing for thriving city regions, reducing the risks of drought and flooding, and choosing and designing infrastructure - all priorities for Northumberland that are reflected in the submission draft Local Plan.

6.17 NELEP facilitates the LA7 Economic Directors, Transport Officers and Planning Leads networks, supporting the work of the seven LAs with expert capacity and resources, coordinating collaborative funding bids for Enterprise

14 https://www.nelep.co.uk/the-plan/ 20

Zones, Transforming Cities Fund, Local Growth Funding, European Funding and other strategic infrastructure projects of shared regional benefit.

Borderlands Partnership / Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal

6.18 Borderlands Inclusive Growth15 Partnership brings together the five cross-border local authorities of Northumberland County Council, Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council, Dumfries & Galloway Council and Scottish Borders Council to promote economic growth and competitiveness of the area that straddles the Scotland-England border.

6.19 The partners are working on a collective ambition to unlock the potential for sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the south of Scotland and north of England. They are seeking to agree a Growth Deal with the UK and Scottish Governments.

6.20 The themed topics that the Borderlands Partnership has been working on are: Energy; Digital; Transport Connections; Business; Destination Borderlands; Quality of Place; Rural Productivity; and Skills and Innovation.

6.21 Following the submission of a Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal proposal to the UK and Scottish Governments at the end of September 2018, progress continues to be made with a view to reaching a ‘Heads of Terms’ agreement. Positive meetings have taken place with key government ministers following submission of the proposal by the Borderlands Partnership. In March 2019 the Borderlands Partnership welcomed the first funding announcement of £345 million from the UK and Scottish Governments. The Alnwick Garden in Northumberland will receive up to £5m to help develop the largest play structure in the world and it is due to open to the public in 2021.

6.22 The Northumberland Local Plan Submission Draft (Regulation 22) fully reflects the economic and housing needs associated with the Deal. Among the Deals main goals is to look at the feasibility of extending the Borders Railway beyond Tweedbank to Carlisle. It also involves four specific place-based projects, which are:

● Carlisle Station Gateway ● Chapelcross Energy Park near Annan ● Berwick Theatre and Conference Centre ● The Mountain Bike Innovation Centre in the Scottish Borders.

15 http://www.borderlandsgrowth.com/

Governance Arrangements for Strategic Planning in the North East

6.23 In respect of plan making there are additional arrangements that sit below and within the regional bodies and partnerships described above that assist in dealing with strategic cross boundary planning matters in the region. Figure 5 describes these and they are explained in more detail below.

Figure 5 Governance for Strategic Planning in the North East

LA7 North East Heads of Planning Group

6.24 The North East Heads of Planning Group consists of the Heads of Planning from Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, Durham, South Tyneside and Sunderland authorities. The group was formally established on 19 January 2012, meeting at least quarterly to discuss high-level, cross-boundary planning issues and share strategic and procedural best practices.

6.25 The Heads of Planning Group reports through to the LA7 Economic Directors Group and then onwards to the Chief Executives and Leadership Board (comprising the seven leaders and Elected Mayors). This group agreed a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which set out jointly agreed approaches to strategic planning matters across the NELEP/NECA area. The MoU was endorsed by Northumberland County Council on 12 November 2013 and signed off by Chief Executives and Leaders of the seven Local Authorities in June 2014. A signed copy of the MoU is attached at Appendix 2.

6.26 A joint position statement (Appendix 6) was also prepared in Spring 2013 and appended to the MoU - it sets out the strategic planning issues of agreement amongst the seven Local Authorities in respect of the Duty. The position statement recognised that each authority’s Local Plan is at a different stage of preparation. The seven authorities are all seeking to promote sustainable economic growth, meet objectively assessed needs, retain their working age population and address population ageing. The statement agreed that it may be necessary for some authorities to seek a claw back of economically active households from adjoining areas.

6.27 It was agreed at LA7 Heads of Planning on 3 May 2019 that the Regional Position Statement should be retired. However, there is no change to the agreements regarding the distribution of housing and jobs among the authorities in their development plans. The commitment to work together remains and is outlined in the schedules attached to this statement at Appendix 1.

North of Tyne Policy Officer’s Working Group

6.28 As adjoining urban authorities, Northumberland County Council has an active and constructive working relationship with North Tyneside Council, Northumberland National Park Authority, Newcastle City Council (and Gateshead Council due to their shared housing market area and commercial development market with Newcastle) outside of high-level meetings. This is cemented through a formal North of Tyne Working Group which sits below the Heads of Planning Group and runs parallel to a South of Tyne Policy Officers Working Group (comprising of the remaining four North East authorities).

6.29 As part of the North of Tyne working group the Authorities of Northumberland, the National Park Authority, Newcastle, (Gateshead) and North Tyneside have engaged regularly throughout preparation of their respective Local Plans. This engagement has sought to consider the strategic cross boundary implications of proposed growth and subsequent

infrastructure requirements, for Northumberland in particular the reciprocal transport impacts of proposed development between the south east of the County and the areas to the south. The work has resulted in changes to emerging policy over time and is reflected in the Northumberland Local Plan Submission Draft.

North East Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Officers Group

6.30 The North East Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Officers Group meet bi-annually. The group includes all North East authorities, Cumbria County Council, North Yorkshire County Council and relevant stakeholders such as the Environment Agency and the Marine Management Organisation. The group discusses issues of mutual interest in relation to planning for minerals and waste, collaborates on evidence preparation where relevant, and updates on progress with policy development. The group started in 2015 and incorporates and supersedes the Northern Counties Planning for Minerals and Waste Group and the North East Waste Planning Group which previously met.

6.31 The group has supported joint working on the evidence-base relating to waste arisings, capacity and cross boundary movements which has led to the production of the following evidence base studies: ‘Model of Waste Arisings and Waste Management Capacity (July 2012)’, ‘Production and disposal of low level radioactive waste (August 2013)’ and ‘Waste Capacity Update Note (January 2016)’. These inform waste proposals in development plans.

North East Aggregates Working Party

6.32 The North East Aggregates Working Party (AWP) meets at least once a year. The North East AWP covers a cluster of thirteen Mineral Planning Authorities in North East England over the sub-regional areas of County Durham, Northumberland, Tees Valley, and Tyne and Wear. It is one of a number of similar groups throughout England and Wales. Its membership is made up of the thirteen Mineral Planning Authorities, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the aggregates industry.

6.33 The AWP has a role in helping to plan for a steady and adequate supply of aggregate minerals through providing data on sales, reserves and planning permissions for aggregate minerals and providing technical advice on the supply and demand for aggregates from their areas. The AWP publishes an annual monitoring report as well as scrutinising and providing advice on the Local Aggregates Assessments produced by the Mineral Planning

Authorities. Northumberland County Council currently provides the secretariat to the North East AWP on behalf of MHCLG.

Cumbrian Development Plan Officers Group (DPOG)

6.34 Quarterly meetings take place between: the Cumbrian district authorities16; the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Park Authorities; Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Northumberland County Councils; Lancaster City Council; and Dumfries and Galloway Council, under the banner of Development Plan Officers’ Group (DPOG) which is also attended by the Environment Agency. The aim of DPOG is to provide LPAs with a forum to discuss and advise on the implications of planning policy and guidance, help to raise awareness of cross boundary issues, and share best practice on local planning issues. It provides a valuable forum for early consideration of emerging issues.

6.35 DPOG invites organisations such as the Environment Agency or Natural England to attend and speakers have also attended to discuss a variety of other issues such as Accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers which also enables common understanding of shared concerns. An officer from the Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Team at Cumbria County Council also attends. Depending on the agenda, Northumberland County Council either attend the meetings in person or keep in touch via email updates.

Biodiversity / Environment Partnerships

6.36 There are currently two Nature Partnerships within the region that include land in the County. The Northern Upland Chain LNP covers a geography in the west of the County and encompasses Northumberland National Park, North Pennines AONB, Yorkshire Dales National Park, Nidderdale AONB and the Forest of Bowland AONB as well as the National Nature Reserves of Keilderhead and Whitelee Moor as well as Kielder Forest and Water and the ‘Tyne Gap’ between the North Pennines AONB and Northumberland National Park. The North East England Nature Partnership includes the remainder of Northumberland County and runs south to the Durham County boundary.

6.37 The area is covered by two wildlife trusts: Durham Wildlife Trust and Northumberland Wildlife Trust, which play an active role in shaping policies and projects in the area, and support cross-boundary cooperation on issues that affect biodiversity assets. The Durham Biodiversity Action Plan, Newcastle and North Tyneside Biodiversity Action Plan, and Northumberland Biodiversity Action Plan identify priority habitats and species in the region.

16 Allerdale BC, Barrow BC, Carlisle CC, Copeland BC, Eden DC, South Lakeland DC 25

The Local Biodiversity Action Plans are delivered through partnerships that involve wildlife organisations, local authorities, businesses and other interested parties.

6.38 Local wildlife partnerships and catchment partnerships inform cross-boundary cooperation on biodiversity assets and water quality, often contributing to maintaining, providing, or enhancing green infrastructure assets in the area. Adopted and emerging Local Plan documents identify strategic wildlife corridors and other environmental assets that cross administrative boundaries. Local Plans also identify and protect areas of high landscape quality, with cross-boundary implications taken into account and complementary policy approaches are agreed.

6.39 The County Council engages as a permanent member of the two AONB partnerships in the County - the Northumberland Coast, and the North Pennines. The joint work of the groups has resulted in agreed policy approaches to the AONB areas in respect of the Local Plan and will continue in its implementation assisting in the management and protection of the AONB’s.

6.40 Across the region a number of catchment-based partnerships (Tyne, Wear and Tees) work collaboratively at a river catchment scale to deliver cross-cutting improvements to the water environment. The catchment partnerships help to manage flood risk and to deliver wider environmental benefits such as enhancing wildlife and habitats, and improving water quality in accordance with the Northumbria River Basin Management Plan. The partnerships are made up of a range of organisations including: the Environment Agency, Northumbrian Water, Rivers Trusts, Wildlife Trusts, Groundwork, Natural England, Local Nature Partnership and local authorities.

Flood and Water Management

6.41 Northumberland’s Local Planning Authority (LPA), Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), Highways and Civil Contingencies teams work collaboratively to ensure planning policy and decisions support Northumberland’s Local Flood Risk Management Strategy. This is coordinated through the Northumberland Strategic Flood Risk Management Partnership. Northumberland LLFA is a member of Northumbria Regional Flood and Coastal Committee and Northumbria Integrated Drainage Partnership. The Regional Flood and Coastal Committee is established by the Environment Agency encompassing the seven North east authority areas as well as Stockton on Tees, Darlington and Middlesborough Councils. The

Northumbria Integrated Drainage Partnership engages the Northumbria Regional Flood and Coastal Committee and Northumbrian Water.

6.42 The LLFA consistently attends meetings to determine the medium-term programme for Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) Grant in Aid and Local Levy funding for flood alleviation schemes that are delivered by flood Risk Management Authorities (RMAs). The LPA also holds regular meetings with the Environment Agency, Northumbrian Water and RMAs.

7. Strategic Planning Matters

7.1 A number of issues of strategic importance that require cooperation with our neighbours have been identified17, these include issues where further work is required and those where no matters of concern have been identified (denoted by an *); ■ Population and Housing - Setting Future Housing Requirements ■ Economic Growth and Planning for Jobs ■ Transport and Infrastructure ■ Minerals and Waste ■ Community Infrastructure Levy ■ Wastewater Treatment ■ Green Infrastructure ■ Shopping, Leisure and Tourism* ■ Renewable Energy* ■ Healthcare* ■ Education* ■ Utilities*

7.2 Paragraph 11 of the NPPF requires that …. “b) strategic policies should, as a minimum, provide for objectively assessed needs for housing and other uses, as well as any needs that cannot be met within neighbouring areas..”

Population and Housing:- Setting Future Housing Requirements

7.3 The establishment of future population and housing requirements is a cross boundary matter in respect of any shared housing market areas, and the functional relationships represented by travel to work areas. As previously noted at paragraph 4.6 whilst Northumberland County has a relatively well contained housing market area the influences at the borders are recognised. The LA7 authorities have, throughout the production of their plans, engaged

17 The issues were identified through the Regional Position Statement (Spring 2013) produced as an Appendix to the Memorandum of Understanding (June 2014) between the seven Local Authorities in the Northeast region. https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning-and-Building/planning%2 0policy/Local%20Plan/NCC-Duty-to-Cooperate-March-2017.pdf 27

in an ongoing and constructive manner in the consideration of matters in relation to meeting housing needs across the region and the relationship between housing and jobs.

7.4 As previously noted (Paragraphs 6.26- 6.27) the LA7 agreed that all authorities are seeking to retain or encourage growth to support sustainable economic growth, maintain a proportion of economically active population, accommodate the trend of ageing population profiles and to meet their own objectively assessed needs within their administrative boundaries ( as expressed in the 2013 position statement at Appendix 6). In some instances it was acknowledged that it may be necessary to claw back economically active households from adjoining authorities. This agreement stands. The housing provision in the LA7 and other neighbours plans is set out in Figure 6 below:

Figure 6 : Local Authority Housing Requirements

Local Authority Most Recent Plan Period Development Plan Minimum Strategic Plan (Adopted Net Additional Housing Requirement Local Housing or Draft) Need per annum (2016-2026)* Total Average per Annum

Northumberland

Northumberland Publication Draft Local 2016-2036 min. 17,700 885 County Plan (January 2019) 717 Northumberland Preferred Options Draft 2017-2037 up to 160 8 National Park Local Plan (July 2018)

Tyne & Wear

min. 16,593 (2011-2032) 790 North Tyneside Local Plan (July 2017) 2011-2032 834 (13,098 for (873pa for 2017-2032) 2017-2032)

Newcastle upon Tyne** 17,000 850 1,054 Joint Core Strategy & Urban Core Plan 2010-2030 (March 2015) Gateshead 8,500 425 474

Core Strategy (June 2007) 2004-2021 5,540 South Tyneside** / Site-Specific Allocations (extended to (7,150 for 325 363 (April 2012) 2026) 2004-2026)

Publication Draft Core Sunderland** Strategy & Development 2015-2033 min. 13,410 745 603 Plan (June 2018)

Durham

Pre-Submission Draft County Durham 2016-2035 24,852 1,308 1,360 Local Plan (January 2019)

Cumbria

9,606 (2013-2030) District Local Plan 565 Carlisle 2015-2030 (7,965 net 211 (November 2016) (531pa for 2015-2030) 2015-2030)

Eden Local Plan (October 2018) 2014-2032 4,356 242 104

Scotland

Local Development Plan Up to 2025 (May 2016)

Scottish Borders Proposed South East 4,594 383 (part of SESplan) (SESplan Scotland Strategic (+2,866 for (+358pa for N/A 2018-2030) Development Plan 2030-2038) 2030-2038)

(October 2016) * Minimum Local Housing Need for 2016-2026 calculated from the ONS 2014-based household projections (2016) and ONS 2017 affordability ratios (2018), as was applicable at the time of preparing the evidence base for the Regulation 18 draft Northumberland Local Plan. The LHN in Figure 6 isn’t necessarily the same as a LHN calculated using 2019 as a starting point and latest affordability ratios (as set out in PPG if LHN were to be calculated in May 2019) **South Tyneside and Sunderland are not directly neighbouring authorities to Northumberland County.

7.5 In the case of the Northumberland Local Plan in order to determine the minimum number of homes required for the plan period, the NPPF requires that policies should be informed by a local housing need assessment, using the standard method in national planning guidance, unless otherwise justified. Using the standard methodology, over the plan period, the Local Housing Need equates to 717 dwellings per annum. Recognising the Council’s economic ambitions, identified through Northumberland’s contribution to delivering the objectives of the North East SEP, the North of Tyne Devolution Deal and the Borderlands initiative, together with recently completed, committed and proposed infrastructure improvements, it is considered appropriate to set a housing need figure in excess of that presented by the standard methodology. To support economic growth, the Northumberland Local Plan proposes a minimum of 17,700 net additional dwellings at an average 885 per annum.

7.6 Northumberland County Council has not considered it necessary to seek any of its neighbouring authorities help to provide for any of Northumberlands’ identified housing or economic needs.

7.7 The NPPF also requires that in establishing the amount of housing to be planned for, any needs that cannot be met within neighbouring areas should also be taken into account. The basic premise that the authorities were to provide for their own need was the starting point, however, Durham County Council, in June 2018, asked if Northumberland County Council and other neighbours would be able to accommodate some of Durham County Council’s objectively assessed housing need thus avoiding the need to alter green belt boundaries. The Northumberland County Council responded informing Durham County that it would not be in a position to do so. It is considered that the development needs of Durham County could not be met in the rural parts of Northumberland bordering Durham County due to Green Belt restrictions, and levels of self containment of housing market areas.

7.8 While it has not been necessary for Northumberland to formally agree to accommodate the needs of neighbouring authorities, Northumberland has strong linkages with them in terms of migration and travel to work patterns. This was recognised in the North of Tyne Position Statement (November 2016) - Appendix 7, prepared for the North Tyneside Local Plan Examination in Public. Much of the housing proposed in the Northumberland Local Plan, is located in the southeast of the county, in settlements close to North Tyneside such as Cramlington. Much of it already benefits from planning permission. It is considered that there is scope for housing developments in such locations to not only support jobs in Northumberland, but to also increase housing choices for those working in North Tyneside. It is also considered likely that a significant number of households living in

Northumberland will include members who work in Northumberland and neighbouring authority areas such as North Tyneside. Therefore, the ongoing development of employment opportunities in North Tyneside that are easily accessible to residents of Northumberland and the further development of employment opportunities in Northumberland would strengthen the travel to work and housing market relationship between North Tyneside and South East Northumberland.

7.9 It is agreed that the North Tyneside Local plan is consistent with the Northumberland Local Plan and its objectives to grow and diversify the County’s economy, extend choice in the housing market and stem the projected decline in working age population. The two strategies lead to a reduction in the ratio of employed residents to jobs in each authority and the net result of the interactions between the two authorities would include a greater number of those employed in North Tyneside being accommodated in Northumberland.

7.10 The specific housing requirements for each authority set out in Figure 6 will remain under review as new evidence emerges and development plans are progressed. Working closely with neighbouring authorities through the Duty to Cooperate, the Council will continue to ensure that planned housing growth across the wider region is complementary and strategically co-ordinated.

Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

7.11 The needs and provision in Northumberland with respect to Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople were also agreed to be provided for within the respective LA7 authorities. They are therefore contained within the County. Whilst there are cross boundary movements of travellers, none of our neighbours has identified any cross boundary issues with respect to provision for these groups. There continues to be discussion regarding the future provision of transit sites.

Economic Growth and Planning for Jobs

7.12 Under the umbrella of the combined authorities and the LA 7 Heads of Planning Group engagement in respect of economic growth has been ongoing and effective on a number of levels. All seven local authorities have used economic growth modelling in their employment land studies to forecast job growth, and how much land would be required to accommodate these jobs. They have also considered the quantity and quality of their portfolios of sites and premises to meet future demand. To ensure job forecasts are aspirational but realistic, a number of methods are utilised such as:

Econometric growth scenarios; employment targets, linking in with population projections and migration rates; historic take-up rates; and consultation with businesses and the commercial development industry.

7.13 Numerous discussions took place during the preparation of the (now withdrawn) Northumberland Local Plan Core Strategy regarding methodology and results of respective authorities employment land reviews. Most of this work has been rolled forward for the Northumberland Local Plan. In February 2018 Durham County Council hosted an Employment Land Review workshop where it was agreed that the Council’s approaches were likely to be similar and the approaches to deallocation, new allocation of land and protection of land were also generally in tune with other stakeholders attending (mainly other councils from across the region). In addition, a population, housing and economic growth workshop hosted by Northumberland’s consultants PBA in January 2018 touched on the issue of employment land where stakeholders such as ARCH and the Port of Blyth emphasised the importance of the strategic sites as well as flagging up the key importance of the Blyth Estuary and Port of Blyth to the region. Advance Northumberland18 saw key roles for sites such as Ashwood Business Park and sites in Cramlington to the overall strategy for employment land supply for the region as well as the County. The key locations for future growth contained within Northumberland are recognised by neighbours as being in alignment with their strategies and important to the region (refer section 4 Appendix 6). Employment growth and land is not therefore considered to be an issue of contention at the sub regional level - rather complementary to neighbours strategies.

7.14 A key element of the Northumberland County Council’s economic strategy is to support rural growth, beyond the more urban southeast. To support economic growth in Hexham, Ponteland and Prudhoe, Green Belt changes are proposed to accommodate B class land uses. These Green Belt changes are proposed to accommodate employment land, to meet the needs of these towns and their hinterlands, and market demand for employment land. It is not considered that these local needs can be met by the provision of employment land in other settlements, including those in neighbouring local planning authorities, irrespective of whether land is available in these locations.

7.15 As previously noted (paragraph 6.14) the development plans in the region seek to support the Strategic Economic Plan of NELEP, NECA and NOTC.

18 https://www.advancenorthumberland.co.uk/about/key-documents 32

Transport and Infrastructure

7.16 Northumberland has worked, and will continue to work effectively with its neighbouring Local Highway Authorities, Newcastle International Airport and Highways England in order to overcome shared concerns relating to the Strategic Road Network and linkages to the adjoining local networks, particularly key routes into the regional capital and to Newcastle International Airport. The sub regional governance structures noted in section 6, in particular the North East Joint Transport Committee is key to this engagement. In addition to this, discussions related to the scale of development and understanding potential market impacts linked to the scale of proposed development whilst ensuring the delivery of strategic sites across the North of Tyne area will continue to take place as preparation of the Local Plan for Northumberland evolves.

7.17 Existing commitments through Highway England’s first Road Investment Strategy (RIS1) will result in dualling of the A1 in Northumberland from Morpeth to Felton and from Alnwick to Ellingham as well as complementary improvements north of Ellingham. Although not fundamental to the delivery of the plan, completing the dualling of the A1 north of Ellingham to the Scottish Border remains a priority and is required to reflect the strategic nature of the link connecting the major city regions of Newcastle and Edinburgh.

7.18 Northumberland County Council welcomes continued investment in the strategic road network in Northumberland including the current commitment to capacity improvements on the A69 at Bridge End, Hexham and at Styford near Corbridge planned to start in 2019. In addition continued work with all the key stakeholders to ensure delivery of the transport priorities for the region is welcomed.

7.19 The promotion of the reopening of the existing freight only line between Ashington and Newcastle for passenger services (“The Northumberland Line”) is a shared regional and sub-regional priority with Northumberland County Council as lead partner and with support from Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, Nexus19 and Transport for the North. It is included in the NTCA plans/ aspirations20 and is under consideration for the Transforming Cities Funding Bid being submitted by the region. Northumberland County Council is currently working through the GRIP process with GRIP2 (Feasibility) recently completed. Anticipated entry on to

19https://northeastca.gov.uk/what-we-do/transport/ 20https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5bbf08bdc2ff616708156a58/t/5be323872b6a2815fe9ab467/1541612 442072/North+of+Tyne_Economic+Vision_web+final.pdf 33

the Department for Transport’s Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline in Spring 2019 and a subsequent bid for Transforming Cities Funds in the Summer of 2019.

7.20 The Northumberland Line scheme will improve local, regional and national connectivity and this is recognised by neighbouring local authorities. In addition, by linking into the Tyne & Wear Metro system at Northumberland Park the scheme will also be compatible with the ambitions of Nexus in its emerging ‘Metro and Local Rail Strategy’21 which articulates a vision of existing and disused local rail corridors combining with the Metro network to create a single Metro and local rail network.

Minerals and Waste

7.21 Joint working on minerals and waste is well developed and without contention between Northumberland County Council and the other relevant authorities. The nature of the mineral resources that occur in Northumberland means that there is demand for these resources to supply other areas, including Tyne and Wear in particular in respect to construction aggregates where suitable resources are less readily available but demand is high.

7.22 An Energy from Waste facility on Teesside has an important role in managing local authority collected waste from Northumberland that is not suitable for reuse, recycling and composting and is included in the Council’s current waste management contract that runs until 2035. Some other wastes are also exported from Northumberland for management where more specialist facilities for these materials operate over large catchment areas that are sometimes at a national scale as well as current waste management contracts that operate beyond the borders of Northumberland. Facilities in Northumberland also import waste for management for similar reasons and there has historically been pressure to manage waste from Tyne and Wear. Further work may be required to demonstrate an agreed approach to cross border waste management to areas outwith the region and update work based on the latest data regarding movements (released annually through the Environment Agency’s Waste Data Interrogator).

Waste Water treatment

7.23 Some wastewater, from parts of the County close to its boundary with Tyne and Wear, is treated at the Howdon Wastewater Treatment Works in North Tyneside, along with wastewater from neighbouring authorities. There were

21 /www.nexus.org.uk/sites/default/files/Metro%20Futures%20brochure.pdf

potential future capacity issues relating to these treatment works. A large part of the Howdon catchment was served by combined sewers and there was often no option but to accept both foul and surface water from development, leading to unnecessary treatment of surface water. To ensure wastewater from future new development can be accommodated at the treatment works, there has been ongoing joint work between the Council, other local authorities, Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency on the development of a strategic policy to reduce the amount of surface water run-off from new developments, and separate it from the sewerage system.

7.24 All 7 LPAs agreed to work in partnership with NWL to manage and deliver appropriate projects to provide additional capacity/ headroom and incorporate appropriate management policies into Local Plans. This work has been successful to date as evidenced by the schedules in Appendix 1.

Coastal Management

7.25 Northumberland and North Tyneside share a boundary on the North Sea Coast. The authorities have engaged in specific discussions on the policy response to managing development along the coast and the management of biodiversity protection and enhancement. In addition Northumberland County has engaged on an ongoing and constructive basis with the Marine Management Organisation in the production of the emerging North East Marine Plan.

7.26 The Northumberland Coast is of national and international importance for its wildlife and contains many areas and species protected by legislation and designations. New development can have a range of impacts on these protected areas, but one that is likely to arise from all new housing or tourist accommodation is increased disturbance to the bird species that are their special features, arising from increased recreational activity on the coast. Increased foot passage through the dunes also causes the spread of a non-native invasive species called pirri-pirri bur.

7.27 It is the responsibility of the developer to provide the required mitigation for their development. However, this can be especially difficult for developers to achieve for impacts arising from recreational activity on sites outside the developer’s control and which people have a right to access and an understandably strong desire to access, such as the coast. Northumberland County Council has been working with North Tyneside Council and Natural England to review its approach to the assessment and management of impacts arising from new development on specially protected sites on the coast, and has determined that the only realistic way to address the impacts of recreational activity on designated sites on the coast is through a strategic

scheme funded by developers and implemented by the Council. This will enable mitigation to be provided within the designated sites themselves, in a consistent manner along the whole of the Northumberland coast. The Northumberland Coastal Mitigation Service Strategy Document (December 2018) sets out that strategy, the mitigation measures to be implemented within the designated sites, monitoring and reporting arrangements and proposed governance arrangements. The Strategy specifically addresses the impacts caused by increased recreational activity arising from new housing and tourism developments. The two Councils continue to work towards a co-ordinated approach to delivering coastal mitigation.

Green Infrastructure and Biodiversity

7.28 North Tyneside, Northumberland and Newcastle share a number of green infrastructure assets and designated sites of biodiversity value that cross or lie close to Authority boundaries. As already noted the Northumberland Coastline Special Protection Area is an international cross border designation where specific joint working has been undertaken.

7.29 For wider green infrastructure and biodiversity matters, discussion between the three Authorities to ensure an appropriate and co-ordinated response a specific Green Infrastructure North of Tyne officer working group met during preparation of each areas Local Plan.

7.30 The wildlife corridors and areas of biodiversity protection identified within the Northumberland Local Plan respect and support the objectives of North Tyneside and Newcastle key sites of biodiversity value.

Green Belt

7.31 The Green Belt designated in 1963 surrounds the conurbation of Tyne and Wear. The main function of the Green Belt in Northumberland is to prevent the unrestricted sprawl of the Tyne and Wear conurbation by keeping land permanently open.

7.32 Through North of Tyne working Group meetings the approach to Green Belt Reviews including Green belt boundaries and methodologies have been agreed to ensure that if amendments are to be made, they do not undermine the Green Belt designations extending into the adjoining authority areas.

7.33 In recent years Green Belt boundaries in the North East have been reviewed and reconsidered by a number of local authorities. Principally this has been in the context of providing more land for development in order to meet the growth requirements, associated with planning to meet objectively assessed

need. In this context, neighbouring local authorities have considered changes to their Green Belt boundaries through each respective Local Plan process.

7.34 Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council undertook a process of preparing a joint strategic plan - the ‘Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan for Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne 2010-2030’. This was adopted in 2015 and included a number of deletions to the Green Belt in order to identify enough land to meet the objectively assessed need for development in each area. Durham County Council also propose changes to the Green Belt in their submission plan as does Northumberland County Council.

7.35 The changes adopted and potentially proposed in the future, at sub-regional level, will have an impact upon the scope of the Green Belt in the North East. As a cross boundary strategic planning issue this is something that will continue to be considered through strategic planning processes.

8. Local Plan Production - Current Position

8.1 Each neighbouring authority is at a different stage in plan preparation as set out in Figure 7 below.

Figure 7: Progress on local plans

LPA Local Plan document Status Plan period

Newcastle City Core Strategy and Urban Adopted 2015 2010- 2030 Council Core Plan

Development and Submitted March 2015 -2030 Allocations DPD 2019

Community Infrastructure Adopted Levy (CIL) charging November 2016 schedule Effective November 2016

Gateshead Core Strategy and Urban Adopted 2015 2010- 2030 Council Core Plan

Making Spaces for Submitted April 2015 - 2030 Growing Places (MSGP) 2019 Local Plan Document (LPD)

Community Infrastructure Adopted Levy (CIL) charging November 2016 schedule Effective January 2017

North North Tyneside Local Plan Adopted July 2017 2011 - 2032 Tyneside Council Community Infrastructure Adopted October Levy (CIL) charging 2018 schedule Effective January 2019

Northumberlan NNPA Core Strategy and Adopted March 2009 - 2024 d National Development Policies 2009 Park Authority (NNPA) NNPA Local Plan Review Publication draft 2017-2037 plan expected May 2019

Durham County Durham Plan Submission 2016-2035 County anticipated June Council 2019

Minerals and Waste Work started Not specified in Policies and Allocations LDS

Carlisle City Carlisle District Local Plan Adopted 2015-2030 Council November 2016

St Cuthbert’s Garden Updated Scope/ To beyond 2030 Village Local Plan Options expected June 2019

Eden District Eden District Local Plan Adopted October 2014-2032 Council 2018

Cumbria Cumbria Minerals and Adopted 2015 - 2030 County Waste Local Plan September 2017 Council (CMWLP)

Scottish Scottish Borders Council Adopted May 2016 Up to 2025 Borders Local Development Plan Council (LDP)

Local Development Plan Proposed LDP2 2021-2026 (LDP2) published and formal representation phase - anticipated Winter 2019

South East Second Proposed Strategic On 16 May 2019 2018-2038 Scotland Development Plan the South East Development Scotland Strategic Plan Authority Development Plan (SESplan 2) was rejected by Scottish Ministers on the basis that strategic transport infrastructure issues were not

properly considered.

9. Working together in the future

9.1 The Duty to Cooperate requires Local Planning Authorities to constructively and actively engage with relevant bodies as part of an ongoing process of strategic planning. This relates to all stages of development plan production and review. The Council looks forward to ongoing engagement with partners to continue to manage strategic cross boundary matters and to develop effective planning policies and delivery strategies.

9.2 This statement will be updated as part of an iterative process at each stage of the Northumberland Local Plan. SoCG have been prepared with neighbouring local authorities and are appended to this statement.

10. Appendices

Appendix 1 - Statements of Common Ground with neighbouring Local Planning Authorities and Prescribed Bodies (May 2019)

Appendix 2 - Memorandum of Understanding Duty to Cooperate Newcastle, Gateshead, Northumberland, Durham, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland Councils (June 2014) https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning- and-Building/planning%20policy/Duty%20to%20Cooperate/Memorandum-of-Under standing-Duty-to-Cooperate-June-2014.pdf

Appendix 3 - Northumberland Local Plan Publication Draft Plan (Regulation 19) Duty to Cooperate Statement of Common Ground (December 2018) https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning- and-Building/planning%20policy/Local%20Plan/Statement-of-Common-Ground-Sta ge-1-Regulation-19.pdf

Appendix 4 - Northumberland Local Plan Draft Plan for Regulation 18 Consultation Duty to Cooperate Statement (July 2018) https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning- and-Building/planning%20policy/Local%20Plan/NCC-LP-Reg-18-Duty-to-Cooperate -July-2018.pdf

Appendix 5 - Northumberland Local Plan: Core Strategy Draft Plan Duty to Cooperate Statements (March 2017) https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning- and-Building/planning%20policy/Local%20Plan/NCC-Duty-to-Cooperate-March-201 7.pdf

Appendix 6 - “Retired” Appendix 1- Position Statement - Spring 2013 Strategic Issues of Agreement Amongst the Seven Local Authorities in Respect of the Duty to Cooperate . Otherwise referred to as the Regional Position Statement (Spring 2013) https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning- and-Building/planning%20policy/Duty%20to%20Cooperate/Retired-Appendix-1-Pos ition-Statement-Spring-2013-Strategic-Issues-of-Agreement-Spring-2013.pdf

Appendix 7 - North of Tyne Position Statement North Tyneside Local Plan Examination in Public (November 2016) http://www.northtyneside.gov.uk/pls/portal/NTC_PSCM.PSCM_Web.download?p_I D=567044

Appendix 8 - Duty to Cooperate minutes referenced in Statements of Common Ground (Appendix 1)

Planning Policy Northumberland County Council County Hall, Morpeth Northumberland NE61 2EF

T: 0345 600 6400 E: [email protected] W: www.northumberland.gov.uk

Appendix 1 - Statements of Common Ground with neighbouring Local Planning Authorities and Prescribed Bodies (May

2019)

Statement of Common Ground between Northumberland County Council and Cumbria County Council, 7 May 2019

Governance and working arrangements

● Borderlands Initiative ● Cumbria Development Plan Officers Group ● Northumberland, Eden, Carlisle and Cumbria Duty to Cooperate Meetings

Engagement on Cross Boundary Matters

Key Issue and Outcome

As an adjoining Minerals and Waste Planning Authority, meetings and consultation at key stages in Plan preparation and on strategic waste movements have taken place.

CCC confirmed in their representation at Regulation 18 stage of the Northumberland Local Plan that they are not aware of any strategic minerals or waste planning issue between the two authorities for which provision needs to be made.

Waste

The North East authorities, Cumbria County Council, North Yorkshire County Council and other relevant stakeholders such as the Environment Agency participate in the North East Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Officers Group to discuss strategic, cross boundary issues, share information and support joint working on evidence-base relating to waste arisings, cross boundary movements and waste management capacity. Work has involved identifying significant movements and whether these have implications in terms of strategic planning. This includes movements of low level radioactive wastes to Cumbria for management.

The outcome is that movements are not considered to have significant cross boundary implications.

Minerals

The North East authorities, Cumbria County Council and North Yorkshire County Council participate in the North East Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Officers Group to discuss strategic, cross boundary issues relating to minerals, share information and identify any opportunities for joint working.

The outcome is that cross boundary movements of aggregates minerals between Northumberland and Cumbria have been identified and discussed. These were not considered to raise any strategic issues that need to be taken into account. Borderlands Inclusive Growth Partnership

The Borderlands Partnership brings together the five cross-border local authorities of Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Northumberland County Council and Scottish Borders Council to promote the economic growth of the area that straddles the Scotland-England border.

The outcome is that the partners are working on a collective ambition to unlock the potential for sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the south of Scotland and north of England.

Ongoing joint working

Both parties will continue to work together regarding the cross boundary movements of waste and will continue to participate in the North East Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Officers Group and on strategic minerals planning matters and participate in the operation of the North East Aggregates Working Party and the North East Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Officers Group.

The Borderlands partnership will continue working on a collective ambition to unlock the potential for sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the south of Scotland and north of England.

Statement of Common Ground between Northumberland County Council and Durham County Council, 8 May 2019

Governance and working arrangements

● North East LEP ● NECA Regional Transport Group ● North East Joint Transport Committee ● LA7 Chief Executives ● LA7 Economic Directors ● LA7 Heads of Planning Meetings ● Northumberland and Durham Duty to Cooperate Meetings ● North East Minerals and Waste Policy Officers Group ● North East Regional Aggregates Working Party

Engagement on Cross Boundary Matters

Key Issue and Outcome

Northumberland County Council and Durham County Council have met regularly throughout the production of both authorities Local Plans.

Durham County Council confirmed in their response to the Regulation 19 consultation on the Northumberland Local Plan Publication Draft (NLPPD) , that they do not consider that the provisions of the Northumberland Local Plan will give rise to an unacceptable adverse impact upon County Durham’s environment or the amenity of its local communities.

Housing

Durham County Council, in June 2018, asked if Northumberland County Council would be able to accommodate some of Durham County’s objectively assessed housing need. The County responded informing Durham County that it would not be in a position to do so. It is considered that development needs of Durham County could not be met in the rural parts of Northumberland bordering Durham due to Green Belt restrictions and the self containment of the respective housing market areas.

The outcome is that there are no unresolved strategic or cross boundary matters arising from the policies and proposals of the respective development plans in regard to this matter.

Green Belt

Northumberland County Council (NCC) note that the Green Belt extension in NW Durham that had been proposed in the withdrawn plan (and which NCC had supported) is no longer being proposed. NCC understand that such an extension could be difficult to justify as exceptional circumstances and, on that basis, would not object to the removal of this proposal.

NCC have identified very localised needs for employment sites that require deletions from the Green Belt to support economic growth in Hexham, Ponteland and Prudhoe . These Green Belt changes are proposed to meet the needs of these towns and their hinterlands, and market demand for employment land. It is not considered that these local needs could be met by the provision of employment land in other settlements, including those in neighbouring local planning authorities.

Durham County Council agrees with the approach taken to demonstrating exceptional circumstances for changing Green Belt boundaries to accommodate B class land uses at these locations, and agrees that the localised needs in these settlements could not be appropriately accommodated in Durham14.

Waste

The outcome of the work has involved identifying significant movements of waste and whether these have implications in terms of strategic planning through the following evidence-base studies, which have been jointly commissioned: ‘Model of Waste Arisings and Waste Management Capacity (July 2012)’; ‘Production and disposal of low level radioactive waste (August 2013)’; and ‘Waste Management Capacity Update Note (January 2016)’.

Minerals

The eight Mineral Planning Authorities in County Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear (Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland National Park Authority, South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council) work collaboratively on

14 North of Tyne Officer Working Group meeting minutes 10.4.19 aggregate minerals planning matters and work jointly to prepare an annual Local 15 Aggregates Assessment .

The outcome is that the agreed Local Aggregates Assessment informs policy in the respective Local Plans with an agreed approach to calculating the level of provision in each plan.

All of the aforementioned authorities also actively participate in the North East Aggregates Working Party alongside the five Tees Valley authorities and representatives of the aggregates industry. The North East Aggregates Working Party meet regularly (at least on an annual basis) to discuss strategic aggregates minerals planning issues and 16 publish an Annual Aggregates Monitoring Report which provides data to inform and monitor local plan policy.

The mineral planning authorities in North East England also participate in the North East Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Officers Group meetings to discuss a range of strategic, cross boundary issues relating to minerals, share information and identify opportunities for joint working. For minerals this has led to the annual Local Aggregates Assessment being undertaken jointly with an agreed approach to calculating the level of provision in each plan.

Ongoing joint working

The two authorities will continue to work together to deliver the required development in the functional economic market areas and housing market areas and continue to understand the impacts of growth in their respective areas. The two authorities will continue to work closely on cross-boundary issues, and to understand the potential cross-boundary impacts of housing development in our local authority areas.

The Councils work collaboratively as part of wider regional groups relating to transport, minerals and waste (referred to in governance arrangements within section 6 of the Duty to Cooperate Statement and Compliance Statement ), and will continue to use these forums to identify and address relevant topic-specific cross-boundary issues.

15 Joint Local Aggregates Assessment for County Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear, December 2018 https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning-and-Building/planning%20p olicy/Studies%20and%20Evidence%20Reports/Minerals%20Waste%20Studies/3.%20LAA/Joint-Local-Aggreg ate-Assessment-December-2018.pdf 16 Annual Aggregates Monitoring Report 2017, December 2018 https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning-and-Building/planning%20p olicy/Studies%20and%20Evidence%20Reports/Minerals%20Waste%20Studies/1.%20NE%20Aggregates%20 Working%20Party/NE-AA-Monitoring-Report-2017.pdf Statement of Common Ground between Northumberland County Council and Eden District Council, 7 May 2019

Governance and working arrangements

● Cumbria Development Plan Officers Group ● Northumberland, Eden, Carlisle and Cumbria Duty to Cooperate Meetings

Engagement on Cross Boundary Matters

Key Issue and Outcome

Following Duty to Cooperate meetings21 to consider possible cross border issues, it was concluded that there are no significant cross border issues to be addressed22. Partnership working is well established through the North Pennines AONB partnership.

Ongoing joint working

The two authorities will continue to work closely on cross-boundary issues.

21 Carlisle District Council, Cumbria County Council, Eden District Council & Northumberland County Council Duty to Cooperate meeting minutes 19.05.2014 22 Northumberland Local Plan Draft Plan for Regulation 18 consultation: Duty to Cooperate Briefing - Note of Meeting - 10 July 2018 Statement of Common Ground between Northumberland County Council and Gateshead Council, 8 May 2019

Governance and working arrangements

● North East LEP ● NECA Regional Transport Group ● North East Joint Transport Committee ● LA7 Chief Executives ● LA7 Economic Directors ● LA7 Heads of Planning Meetings ● North of Tyne Working Group Meetings (Gateshead Council attends where appropriate, due to ongoing collaboration and shared housing market area with Newcastle City Council) ● Northumberland and Gateshead Topic Specific Duty to Cooperate Meetings ● North East Minerals and Waste Policy Officers Group ● North East Regional Aggregates Working Party

Engagement on Cross Boundary Matters

Key Issues and Outcomes

NCC and GC work collaboratively and constructively in relation to a number of cross-boundary issues. The issues and outcomes identified here are of particular relevance to the Northumberland Local Plan Publication Draft (NLPPD), and Gateshead’s Making Spaces for Growing Places document. It is relevant to note in this context that the adopted Gateshead and Newcastle Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan (CSUCP) sets out the overall growth strategy for Gateshead, and accordingly the cross-boundary issues associated with Gateshead’s strategic policies have been addressed.

Transport

Both Councils have engaged on the transport implications of our emerging Local Plans. As set out in Gateshead’s response to consultation on the emerging Northumberland Local Plan, and in Northumberland’s response to consultation on the Draft Plan (Regulation 18) MSGP, both councils are committed to ongoing cooperation to identify and address cross-boundary issues.

Green Belt

The Submission Draft Northumberland Local Plan sets out minor changes to the general extent of detailed boundaries of the Green Belt. Gateshead Council has noted its broad support for the approach taken through its response to consultation on the Northumberland Local Plan Publication Draft (Regulation 19) consultation in January 2019.

The Councils will continue ongoing dialogue where necessary as our plans emerge and are implemented.

Gateshead Council agrees with the approach taken to demonstrating exceptional circumstances for changing Green Belt boundaries to accommodate B class land uses at these locations, and agrees that the localised needs in these settlements could not be appropriately accommodated in Gateshead11.

Water Infrastructure

Howdon WwTW, located in North Tyneside, receives and treats wastewater from a population of nearly one million people, including parts of south Northumberland, along with wastewater from neighbouring authorities. There are potential future capacity issues relating to these treatment works. A large part of the Howdon catchment is served by combined sewers and there is often no option but to accept both foul and surface water from development, leading to unnecessary treatment of surface water. To ensure wastewater from future new development can be accommodated at the treatment works, there is currently ongoing joint work between the Council, other local authorities, Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency on the development of a strategic policy to reduce the amount of surface water run-off from new developments, and separate it from the sewerage system.

Northumbrian Water has delivered the surface water separation schemes which were identified and agreed as part of the options study for Howdon WwTW at the beginning of the current Asset Management Planning (AMP) period (2015-2020). The surface water separation schemes remove surface water from unnecessary treatment and reduce dry weather flow to Howdon and create headroom capacity in the short term. NWL have an ambitious investment programme for the next AMP period (2020-2025), and this includes an increase in capacity to the existing facility at Howdon to enable continued future development and population growth in the long term.

11 North of Tyne Officer Working Group meeting minutes 10.4.19 The outcome has been to ensure wastewater from future new development can be accommodated at the Howdon Waste Water Treatment Works. There has also been ongoing joint work between Northumberland Council, other local authorities, Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency on the development of a policy approach (Policy WAT3: Flooding in NLPPD) to reduce the amount of surface water run-off from new developments, and separate it from the sewerage system.

The Council will continue to work with Northumbrian Water and key stakeholders to identify where strategic solutions to water-related infrastructure investment may be required in order to support the strategic aims and expectations of this Plan.

Waste

Gateshead Council confirmed in their response to the Regulation 19 Northumberland Local Plan, that they support the approach to waste and continue to work collaboratively on this topic with Northumberland County Council and the other mineral planning authorities in North East England.

Minerals

12 Joint Local Aggregates Assessment for County Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear, December 2018 https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning-and-Building/planning%20p olicy/Studies%20and%20Evidence%20Reports/Minerals%20Waste%20Studies/3.%20LAA/Joint-Local-Aggreg ate-Assessment-December-2018.pdf The outcome is that the agreed Local Aggregates Assessment informs policy in the respective Local Plans with an agreed approach to calculating the level of provision in each plan. All of the aforementioned authorities also actively participate in the North East Aggregates Working Party alongside the five Tees Valley authorities and representatives of the aggregates industry. The North East Aggregates Working Party meet regularly (at least on an annual basis) to discuss strategic aggregates minerals 13 planning issues and publish an Annual Aggregates Monitoring Report , which provides data to inform and monitor local plan policy.

The mineral planning authorities in North East England also participate in the North East Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Officers Group meetings to identify and discuss a range of strategic, cross boundary issues relating to minerals, share information and identify opportunities for joint working. For minerals this has led to the annual Local Aggregates Assessment being undertaken jointly with an agreed approach to calculating the level of provision in each plan.

Gateshead Council confirmed in their response to the Northumberland Local Plan Publication Draft Plan (Regulation 19), that they support the approach to minerals and continue to work collaboratively on this topic with Northumberland County Council and the other mineral planning authorities in North East England.

Ongoing joint working

The two authorities will continue to work together to deliver the required development in the functional economic market areas, and housing market areas and continue to understand the impacts of growth in their respective areas. The two authorities will continue to work closely on cross-boundary issues, and in particular to understand the potential cross-boundary transport impacts of housing development in our local authority areas.

The Councils work collaboratively as part of wider regional groups relating to transport, minerals and waste (referred to in governance arrangements within the Duty to Cooperate Statement), and will continue to use these forums to identify and address relevant topic-specific cross-boundary issues.

13 Annual Aggregates Monitoring Report 2017, December 2018 https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning-and-Building/planning%20p olicy/Studies%20and%20Evidence%20Reports/Minerals%20Waste%20Studies/1.%20NE%20Aggregates%20 Working%20Party/NE-AA-Monitoring-Report-2017.pdf Statement of Common Ground between Northumberland County Council and Newcastle City Council, 7 May 2019

Governance and working arrangements

● North East LEP ● North of Tyne Mayoral Combined Authority ● NECA Regional Transport Group ● North East Joint Transport Committee ● LA7 Chief Executives ● LA7 Economic Directors ● LA7 Heads of Planning Meetings ● North of Tyne Working Group Meetings ● North East Minerals and Waste Policy Officers Group ● North East Regional Aggregates Working Party

Engagement on Cross Boundary Matters

Key Issue and Outcome

Throughout the preparation of Newcastle and Northumberland’s Local Plans and in exercising the duty to cooperate, both authorities have met regularly to discuss strategic planning issues and shared emerging evidence. During these discussions and Newcastle’s previous submissions to the withdrawn Draft Core Strategy for Northumberland both authorities have maintained dialogue regarding the possible impact of Northumberland’s planned housing growth on Newcastle and to the delivery of Gateshead and Newcastle Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan (CSUCP) (adopted March 2015).

Population & Employment Growth and associated Transport Matters

Throughout the preparation of Newcastle and Northumberland’s Local Plans and in exercising the duty to cooperate, both authorities have met regularly, through LA7 Heads of Planning and North of Tyne working group, to discuss strategic planning issues and shared emerging evidence. During these discussions, and in respect of Newcastle’s previous submissions to the withdrawn Draft Core Strategy for Northumberland, both 1 authorities have maintained dialogue and shared evidence regarding the possible impact of Northumberland’s planned housing growth on Newcastle and its impact on the delivery of Gateshead and Newcastle Core Strategy and Urban Core Plan (CSUCP) (adopted March 2015). For example the ongoing sharing of data regarding traffic impacts of proposals, and changes to strategy since the withdrawn Northumberland Draft Core

1 Northumberland Local Plan Transport Assessment Report (2018), and Northumberland Local Plan Transport Assessment Mitigation Report (2019) Strategy, including no longer proposing housing in the Green Belt close to the City boundary.

Minimum housing requirements for residential development in the Northumberland Local Plan Publication Draft (NLPPD) are derived from the local housing need calculation (stated as 717 dwellings per annum) with an uplift reflecting Northumberland County Council’s ‘ambitious’ growth scenario predicated on North of Tyne Devolution Deal/ Border Growth Deal and infrastructure improvements (885 dwellings p.a.). This growth scenario, is much lower than the withdrawn Northumberland Core Strategy Draft Plan and the SDLP makes clear that housing need does not provide justification for any revisions to Green Belt boundaries in Northumberland.

The outcome has been that the Northumberland Local Plan Publication Draft (NLPPD) is seen as a complementary strategy to those of its neighbours. Newcastle City Council supports the overall approach of the NLPPD in respect of the level and location of growth and the promotion of sustainable connections. In particular, the publication of the Transport Assessment Mitigation Report (January 2019), has helped the Councils to understand the impacts of growth on infrastructure and the City’s public transport and road network. The identified traffic impacts on Newcastle’s network are considered to be relatively minor given the size and location of the proposed housing development allocations in Policy HOU 4 of the NLPPD.

Water Infrastructure

2 NCC and NWL SoCG, 7 May 2019 ambitious investment programme for the next AMP period (2020-2025), and this includes an increase in capacity to the existing facility at Howdon to enable continued future development and population growth in the long term.

The outcome has been to ensure wastewater from future new development can be accommodated at the Howdon Waste Water Treatment Works. There has also been ongoing joint work between Northumberland Council, other local authorities, Northumbrian Water and the Environment Agency on the development of a policy approach (Policy WAT3: Flooding in the NLPPD) to reduce the amount of surface water run-off from new developments, and separate it from the sewerage system.

Green Infrastructure & Biodiversity

Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle share a number of green infrastructure assets and designated sites of biodiversity value that cross or lie close to Authority boundaries such as Gosforth Park (This area of land consists of Gosforth Park Racecourse, Northumberland Golf Course and the surrounding nature reserve). The Gl links from North Tyneside into Northumberland are most popular along the coast and through Holywell Dene. The Northumbria Coast Special Protection Area is an international cross border designation on which specific joint working has been undertaken to ensure its conservation.

A specific Green Infrastructure North of Tyne officer task and finish group met during the preparation of each areas Local Plan to ensure an appropriate and co-ordinated 3 response to shared wider green infrastructure and biodiversity matters . The outcome is that the Local Plans share a suite of policies for the protection of these assets. The wildlife corridors and areas of biodiversity protection identified within the three Plans seek to protect key sites of biodiversity value.

Within Northumberland there are currently two Nature Partnerships: the Northern Upland Chain LNP and the North East England Nature Partnership (NEENP). The County is represented on both as a partner. The role of the Nature Partnerships is to help communities in their local areas to manage the natural environment as a system and embed its value in local decisions, for the benefit of nature, people and the economy. A key initiative being led by the LNPs is Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs). There are currently two NIAs in Northumberland.

The Northumberland Coalfield NIA straddles the boundaries between Northumberland,

3 Green Infrastructure North of Tyne meeting minutes 26.10.2012 Newcastle and North Tyneside, aims to tackle the lack of connectivity between wildlife areas over a 41,000 hectare area. The authorities are parties to this venture. The outcome has been that the Local Plans include policies (Policy ENV2: Biodiversity and Geodiversity of NLPPD) that seek to support the work of the Nature Partnerships in terms of green infrastructure and networks for biodiversity.

Waste

Minerals

The outcome is that the agreed Local Aggregates Assessment informs policy in the respective Local or Minerals Plans with an agreed approach to calculating the level of provision in each plan. All of the aforementioned authorities also actively participate in the North East Aggregates Working Party alongside the five Tees Valley authorities and representatives of the aggregates industry. The North East Aggregates Working Party meet regularly (at least on an annual basis) to discuss strategic

4 Joint Local Aggregates Assessment for County Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear, December 2018 https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning-and-Building/planning%20p olicy/Studies%20and%20Evidence%20Reports/Minerals%20Waste%20Studies/3.%20LAA/Joint-Local-Aggreg ate-Assessment-December-2018.pdf aggregates minerals planning issues and publish an Annual Aggregates Monitoring 5 Report , which provides data to inform and monitor local plan policy.

Ongoing joint working

The two authorities will continue to work together to deliver the required development in the functional economic market areas, and housing market areas and to continue to understand the impacts of growth in their respective areas, and in particular the impact on infrastructure and the city’s public transport and road network. They will develop joint solutions as necessary through the relevant governance level for cross boundary agreements e.g. North East Joint Transport Committee or bilateral undertakings.

They will continue to work together to ensure that the provisions of their local plans address cross boundary green infrastructure and biodiversity assets and enhance biodiversity value. The Councils work collaboratively as part of wider regional groups relating to transport, minerals and waste (referred to in governance arrangements, section 6, within the Duty to Cooperate Statement of Common Ground and Statement of Compliance), and will continue to use these forums to identify and address relevant topic-specific cross-boundary issues.

5 Annual Aggregates Monitoring Report 2017, December 2018 https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning-and-Building/planning%20p olicy/Studies%20and%20Evidence%20Reports/Minerals%20Waste%20Studies/1.%20NE%20Aggregates%20 Working%20Party/NE-AA-Monitoring-Report-2017.pdf Statement of Common Ground between Northumberland County Council and Northumberland National Park Authority, 15 May 2019

Governance and working arrangements

● North of Tyne Working Group Meetings ● Northumberland and NNPA Duty to Cooperate Meetings ● North East Minerals and Waste Policy Officers Group ● North East Regional Aggregates Working Party

Engagement on Cross Boundary Matters

Key Issue and Outcome

Northumberland County Council (NCC) and Northumberland National Park Authority (NNPA) work collaboratively and constructively in relation to a number of cross-boundary issues and have shared evidence base studies1. The issues and outcomes identified here are of particular relevance to the Northumberland Local Plan Publication Draft (NLPPD) and emerging Northumberland National Park Local Plan.

NNPA had no comment to make on the NCC Northumberland Local Plan Publication Draft Plan (Regulation 19) consultation (January 2019) in relation to its legal compliance or soundness or compliance with the Duty to Cooperate.

Housing/ Gateway settlements

In response to public consultation on the NCC Local Plan Draft Regulation 18 the NNPA welcomed the aspiration to deliver sustainable development across the County and particularly supported the identification of Haltwhistle; Bellingham; Rothbury and Wooler as preferred locations for this growth. The aspiration to promote sustainable rural economic growth in suitable locations is supported by NNPA. The gateway settlements of Rothbury, Wooler, Bellingham and Haltwhistle can help meet some of the identified housing needs of the National Park whilst also providing essential community facilities and services for current and future residents.

The outcome is that while a proportion of Northumberland's overall housing need falls within the protected Northumberland National Park (an independent local planning authority), given its lower levels of need and much slower rate of new house building, the Northumberland Local Plan does not make any specific reduction to take into account housebuilding within the National Park.

1 NCC landscape sensitivity study, Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and NCC playing pitch strategy (which covers the NNPA). Environment Northumberland’s distinct and unique landscape is a significant natural and cultural asset. It is important to ensure that the policies of the NCC Local Plan do not undermine the National Park’s special qualities and statutory purposes2.

The outcome is that Policy ENV3 of the Northumberland Local Plan Publication Draft recognises the great weight that should be given to the conservation and enhancement of the special qualities and the statutory purposes of the Northumberland National Park.

Renewable energy

NNPA raised concerns in response to the consultation on the Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan regarding the policy approach to onshore wind energy development3.

The outcome was that amendments were proposed in the Publication Draft Plan Regulation 19 and supporting technical paper to be clearer about the approach and how individual proposals would be determined. Policy REN 1 Renewable and low carbon energy and associated energy storage and Policy REN 2 Onshore wind energy development, in the Northumberland Local Plan Publication Draft, all give great weight to the special qualities and the statutory purposes of the Northumberland National Park.

Waste

The outcome of the work has involved identifying significant movements of waste and whether these have implications in terms of strategic planning through the following evidence-base studies: ‘Model of Waste Arisings and Waste Management Capacity (July 2012)’; ‘Production and disposal of low level radioactive waste (August 2013)’; and ‘Waste Management Capacity Update Note (January 2016)’.

NCC continue to acknowledge that NNP is reliant on waste management facilities outside the National Park to meet its needs due to its rural nature. Local authority collected waste, for example, is managed through sites in main towns and service centres outside of the National Park. This raises an important cross boundary

2 As set out within the Northumberland National Park Management Plan (2016-2021) 3 NCC and NNPA Duty to Cooperate meeting minutes 13.12.2018 plus written representation received to regulation 18 draft plan public consultation. issue but the volumes of wastes are relatively small. There is general agreement that NCC need to take account of this when planning for waste management.

Minerals

The outcome is that the agreed Local Aggregates Assessment informs policy in the respective Local Plans, including an agreed approach to calculating the level of provision in each plan. Provision for aggregate minerals is a key cross boundary issue between NCC and NNPA. Recognising NPPF policy in relation to national parks and aggregates extraction, NCC seeks to ensure the provision for Northumberland as a whole is provided outside of the National Park.

All of the aforementioned authorities also actively participate in the North East Aggregates Working Party alongside the five Tees Valley authorities and representative of the industry. The North East Aggregates Working Party meet regularly (at least on an annual basis) to discuss strategic aggregates minerals planning issues and publish an Annual Aggregates Monitoring Report5, which provides data to inform and monitor local plan policy.

The outcome is that Policy MIN 1 Environmental criteria for assessing minerals proposals gives weight to the special qualities and the statutory purposes of the Northumberland National Park and the annual Local Aggregates Assessment being undertaken jointly with an agreed approach to calculating the level of provision in each plan.

5 Annual Aggregates Monitoring Report 2017, December 2018 https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning-and-Building/planning%20p

Ongoing joint working The two authorities will continue to work closely on cross-boundary issues (including housing, landscape, minerals, waste and renewable energy).

NCC will ensure policies in the Local Plan provide an appropriate level of protection to the Northumberland National Park, recognising its special qualities and statutory purposes. The Council will also seek to maintain land banks of aggregate minerals for the Northumberland sub-region outside of the National Park.

Statement of Common Ground between Northumberland County Council and North Tyneside Council, 14 May 2019

Governance and working arrangements

Engagement on Cross Boundary Matters

Key Issue and Outcome

NCC and NTC work collaboratively and constructively in relation to a number of cross-boundary issues, as outlined below. The issues and outcomes identified here are of particular relevance to the emerging Northumberland Local Plan and the North Tyneside Local Plan (adopted in July 2017). NTC considers the approach set out within the Northumberland Local Plan is reflective of the strategy established through North Tyneside’s Local Plan and the growth aims of each area can be viewed as complementary.

Population & Economic Growth

In NTC’s representation on NCC’s Publication Draft Plan, NTC noted the influence of the North of Tyne Devolution Deal that supports economic growth across Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle. Within this context NTC support the economic ambitions outlined in NCC’s Local Plan Publication Draft, which would be supported by enhancements to connectivity across the North of Tyne whilst maintaining a strong commitment to the protection of the Green Belt boundary between Northumberland and the conurbation. The significance of Tyneside’s economy to Northumberland is reflected in the number of people who live in Northumberland and commute to adjoining areas for employment. It is noted that the Plan recognises the importance of Tyneside in delivering employment opportunities for Northumberland.

NTC recognise NCC’s overall aim to seek to reduce total net out- commuting from Northumberland and sites are proposed for new employment opportunities that could offer attractive alternatives to Tyneside as part of an overall strategy for growth. The outcome is that the Northumberland Local Plan Publication Draft (NLPPD) recognises that South East Northumberland has particular challenges such as unemployment. Sites are proposed for new employment opportunities identified as attractive alternatives to Tyneside as part of an overall strategy for growth. NTC recognises that NCC’s overall aim is to seek to reduce total net out-commuting from Northumberland.

Housing

The NCC Publication Draft allocates some housing sites within the South East Delivery Area, with those at Blyth, Seaton Delaval and Seghill being closest to North Tyneside. It is not anticipated that the proposed increase in allocated dwellings or proposed allocation sites would give rise to any significant impacts upon North Tyneside. Both parties welcome early cooperation as part of the consideration of any housing schemes that come forward that may have cross-boundary implications.

The outcome is that beyond the South East Delivery Area, overall housing growth across Northumberland has potential indirect implications for North Tyneside. Development further north on the A1 particularly at Morpeth which has a housing and commuter role with Tyneside. Ensuring an overall approach is achieved that balances growth in residents and commuters with growth in employment in Northumberland and the wider region is welcomed.

Transport

The Plan acknowledges the importance of the A189/A19 corridor for Northumberland but also the relationship it has with North Tyneside. The A19(T) Economic Corridor is a strategic policy area in the North Tyneside Local Plan, reflecting its importance as an area for current employment and future growth. NTC recognises that a significant number of employees in this corridor commute from Northumberland along the A19 and A189 corridor.

The outcome is that the Northumberland Local Plan Publication Draft (NLPPD) recognises junctions on the A19 where improvements are supported and where the impacts of growth can be mitigated (Policy TRA3). Securing appropriate improvements to the Moor Farm A19/189 interchange are considered of key importance.

Additional policy (TRA 4) specifically safeguarding the Northumberland Line is welcomed, including the reference to its link to Benton Junction in North Tyneside. This aspiration is mirrored in the North Tyneside Local Plan under policy S7.3. Over the life of the Local Plan, NCC welcomes continued joint working with NTC, Highways England and other partners on approaches to delivering improvements to the A19 and wider cross-boundary road and public transport improvements.

Green Belt

The Green Belt creates a boundary between North Tyneside and Northumberland that prevents coalescence between the two authorities’ built-up areas. The section of Green Belt within the North Tyneside boundary was retained in the North Tyneside Local Plan adopted in July 2017. The Local Plan Publication Draft does not propose any amendments to the Green Belt between the south-east of the County and North Tyneside.

The outcome is that NTC supports this approach and have an associated policy in their Local Plan to prevent the merging of these urban areas (Policy STP8 in the NLPPD).

NTC agrees with the approach taken to demonstrating exceptional circumstances for changing Green Belt boundaries to accommodate B class land uses at these locations, and agrees that the localised needs in these settlements could not be appropriately accommodated in North Tyneside6.

Water Infrastructure

6 North of Tyne Officer Working Group meeting minutes 10.4.19 policy to reduce the amount of surface water run-off from new developments, and separate it from the sewerage system.

Coastal Management

North Tyneside and Northumberland share a boundary on the North Sea coast and the Northumberland Coast SSSI and Northumbria Coast Special Protection Area include the intertidal zone in both Northumberland and North Tyneside. The interest features of these designated sites comprise nationally and internationally important populations of migratory and wintering wading birds, and so are vulnerable to disturbance arising from recreational activities such as dog-walking taking place on the coast.

The outcome is that NCC has developed a strategic, developer-funded approach to the management of recreational disturbance within coastal designated sites; the Northumberland Coastal Mitigation Service7. This will employ wardens to identify disturbance hotspots; identify and implement the most appropriate solutions to these and work with recreational users to reduce disturbance to important bird populations. NTC has progressed preparation of its own strategy for ensuring appropriate mitigation can be secured for internationally designated sites, and this will include funding for a warden service. This presents an opportunity for a joint or

7 https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning-and-Building/planning%20p olicy/Local%20Plan/Northumberland-Coastal-Mitigation-Service-Strategy-Document-December-2018.pdf co-ordinated coastal warden service for the Northumbria Coast SPA covering both Local Authority areas. Discussions are ongoing.

Green Infrastructure & Biodiversity

Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle share a number of green infrastructure assets and designated sites of biodiversity value that cross or lie close to Authority boundaries such as Gosforth Park (This area of land consists of Gosforth Park Racecourse, Northumberland Golf Course and the nature reserve around). The Gl links from North Tyneside into Northumberland are most popular along the coast and through Holywell Dene. The Northumbria Coast Special Protection Area is an international cross border designation on which specific joint working has been undertaken to ensure its conservation.

A specific Green Infrastructure North of Tyne officer task and finish group met during the preparation of each areas Plan to ensure an appropriate and co-ordinated response to 8 shared wider green infrastructure and biodiversity matters . The outcome is that the Local Plans share a suite of policies for the protection of these assets. The wildlife corridors and areas of biodiversity protection identified within the three Plans seek to protect key sites of biodiversity value.

Within Northumberland there are currently two Nature Partnerships: the Northern Upland Chain LNP and the North East England Nature Partnership (NEENP). The County is represented on both as a partner either on the partnership board, as is the case for the NEENP, or as part of the North Pennines AONB partnership as is the case for the Northern Upland Chain LNP. The role of the Nature Partnerships is to help communities in their local areas to manage the natural environment as a system and embed its value in local decisions, for the benefit of nature, people and the economy. A key initiative being led by the LNPs is Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs). There are currently two NIAs in Northumberland.

The Northumberland Coalfield NIA, straddles the boundaries between Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside and aims to tackle the lack of connectivity between wildlife areas over a 41,000 hectare area. The authorities are parties to this venture.

The outcome has been that the Local Plans include policies (Policy ENV2: Biodiversity and Geodiversity in the NLPPD) that seek to support the work of the Nature Partnerships in terms of green infrastructure and networks for biodiversity.

Waste

8 Green Infrastructure North of Tyne meeting minutes 26.10.2012 The North East authorities, Cumbria County Council, North Yorkshire County Council and other relevant stakeholders such as the Environment Agency participate in the North East Minerals and Waste Planning Policy Officers Group to discuss strategic, cross boundary issues, share information and support joint working on the evidence-base relating to waste arisings, cross boundary movements and waste management capacity.

Minerals

The outcome is that the agreed Local Aggregates Assessment informs policy in the respective Local Plans with an agreed approach to calculating the level of provision in each plan. All of the aforementioned authorities also actively participate in the North East Aggregates Working Party alongside the five Tees Valley authorities and representatives of the aggregates industry. The North East Aggregates Working Party meet regularly (at least on an annual basis) to discuss strategic aggregates minerals 10 planning issues and publish an Annual Aggregates Monitoring Report , which provides data to inform and monitor local plan policy.

9 Joint Local Aggregates Assessment for County Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear, December 2018 https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning-and-Building/planning%20p olicy/Studies%20and%20Evidence%20Reports/Minerals%20Waste%20Studies/3.%20LAA/Joint-Local-Aggreg ate-Assessment-December-2018.pdf 10 Annual Aggregates Monitoring Report 2017, December 2018 https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning-and-Building/planning%20p olicy/Studies%20and%20Evidence%20Reports/Minerals%20Waste%20Studies/1.%20NE%20Aggregates%20 Working%20Party/NE-AA-Monitoring-Report-2017.pdf Aggregates Assessment being undertaken jointly with an agreed approach to calculating the level of provision in each plan.

Ongoing joint working

The two authorities will continue to work together to deliver the required development in the functional economic market areas, and housing market areas and continue to understand the impacts of growth in their respective areas. The two authorities will continue to work closely on cross-boundary issues, and in particular any future development and improvements to strategic infrastructure that would enhance the sustainable growth of the North of Tyne area.

Statement of Common Ground between Northumberland County Council and Scottish Borders Council, 7 May 2019

Governance and working arrangements

● Borderlands Initiative ● Northumberland, Scottish Borders and SES Plan Duty to Cooperate Meetings

Duty to Cooperate meetings

Key Issue and Outcome

Scottish Borders Council supports cross border linkages through improvements to the East Coast mainline and A1.

Borderlands Inclusive Growth Partnership

The outcome is that the partners are working on a collective ambition to unlock the potential for sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the south of Scotland and north of England.

Ongoing joint working

The Borderlands partnership will continue working on a collective ambition to unlock the potential for sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the south of Scotland and north of England.

Statement of Common Ground between Northumberland County Council and South East Scotland Plan (SES Plan), 7 May 2019

Governance and working arrangements

● Borderlands Growth ● Northumberland, Scottish Borders and SES Plan Duty to Cooperate Meetings

Engagement on Cross Boundary Matters

Key Issue and Outcome

Berwick is the main cross border area in relation to housing. However, SBC nor SESplan see any significant demand arising from developers in the Berwick area and its catchment23.

Borderlands Inclusive Growth Partnership The Borderlands Partnership brings together the five cross-border local authorities of Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Northumberland County Council and Scottish Borders Council to promote the economic growth of the area that straddles the Scotland-England border. The partners are working on a collective ambition to unlock the potential for sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the south of Scotland and north of England.

Ongoing joint working

The Borderlands partnership will continue working on a collective ambition to unlock the potential for sustainable and inclusive economic growth across the south of Scotland and north of England.

23 Scottish Borders Council, SES Plan and Northumberland County Council Duty to Cooperate meeting minutes, 10.6.14.

Appendix 8 - Duty to Cooperate minutes referenced in Statements of Common Ground (Appendix 1)

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE & BIODIVERSITY DUTY TO CO-OPERATE CROSS BOUNDARY WORKSHOP Northumberland, North Tyneside & Newcastle ACTION NOTES

Date: October 26, 2012 Location: Northumberland County Council, County Hall, Morpeth Present: Jo-Anne Garrick (Chair) Northumberland County Council Charlotte Colver Northumberland County Council David Feige Northumberland County Council Claire Dobinson-Booth North Tyneside Council Derek Hilton-Brown Newcastle City Council Theo van Looij Newcastle City Council Gill Thompson Northumberland National Park Apologies Joan Sanderson Northumberland County Council Peter Slegg North Tyneside Council

1. Notes from previous meeting Notes from the previous meeting held on September 20, 2012, were agreed as being an accurate record. 2. Mapping green infrastructure and biodiversity across boundaries Maps showing networks and sites at 1:50000 scale were brought to the table by Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside Councils and there was discussion on GI alignment, particularly on wildlife corridor mapping. There is a history of wildlife corridor mapping through the former Blyth Valley Borough Council, North Tyneside Council and UK/Northumberland BAPs. It was agreed that individual partners will benefit most from sitting down and analysing maps in detail and, while understanding that neighbouring plans maybe mapping in a different way all are trying to identify, for example stepping stones and islands that need connecting including across local authority boundaries. Agreed Actions 1. Charlotte to pursue issue of sharing GIS layers 2. David Feige, Jackie Hunter and Derek Hilton Brown to progress cross boundary wildlife issues

Page 1 of 2 3. Green Infrastructure Policy Options

It was noted that it would be useful to agree on a definition of ‘green infrastructure’ (GI). It was agreed that this would need to be based on the following principles: • incorporation of genetic exchange and migration; • The Wildlife Trusts’ vision of living landscapes - how land is managed to do more for wildlife, people and the economy • multi-functionality particularly around settlements It was agreed that in some cases, for example in coastal areas where economic benefit from tourism may conflict with nature or heritage conservation, multi- functionality may require different functions on adjacent sites rather than several conflicting functions on one site. There was general discussion on the different approaches required in urban and rural areas depending on the scale of the infrastructure network. Theo drew attention to the fact that budgetary constraints on the Council’s ability to commit to GI projects is forcing a redraft of Newcastle’s draft GI Delivery Plan to get back to a more strategic approach that sets the scene, describing what actions a developer needs to consider to contribute to GI. It was agreed to defer a discussion on the alignment of policies across boundaries until a later date. Agreed Actions 3. All will circulate copies of draft policies or principles underpinning GI policies and Charlotte agreed to circulate an electronic copy of the draft North Tyneside Green Infrastructure policy, provided by Claire. 5. Existing Working Groups Theo has revised the list of existing partnerships and working groups and will circulate it for the next meeting for a discussion on strategic groups and other groups. Agreed Action 4. Agreed that members would review the Natural Environment Groups and provide amendments/additions for next North of Tyne Duty to Co-operate meeting. 5. Charlotte agreed to find out how far the regional LCA funded by natural England progressed prior to the ending of the Environment Forum and Landscape Forum subgroup. 6 Next Meeting It was agreed to meet early in December on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday at North Tyneside Council’s Offices. Possible dates, subject to North Tyneside meeting room availability, are: Wednesday 12, Thursday 13 or Friday 14, December, 2012

Page 2 of 2 Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council, Eden District Council and Northumberland County Council

Duty to Cooperate Meeting

Mansion House, Penrith

10 am on Monday 19th May 2014

Minutes Present

Paul Fellows, Planning Policy, Eden District Council Kayleigh Lancaster, Development Management Team, Eden District Council Kevin Tipple, Minerals & Waste, Northumbria County Council Jo-Anne Garrick, Planning Policy, Northumbria County Council Joan Sanderson, Planning Policy, Northumbria County Council Helen Dormand, Planning Policy, Northumbria County Council Graham Hale, Spatial Planning, Cumbria County Council Francesca McEnaney, Minerals & Waste, Cumbria County Council Jillian Hale, Planning Policy, Carlisle City Council

Purpose of meeting

The Localism Act 2011 Section 110 sets out a ‘duty to co-operate'. This applies to all local planning authorities, national park authorities and county councils in England – and to a number of other public bodies. The duty:

• relates to sustainable development or use of land that would have a significant impact on at least two local planning areas or on a planning matter that falls within the remit of a county council • requires that councils set out planning policies to address such issues • requires that councils and public bodies ‘engage constructively, actively and on an ongoing basis’ to develop strategic policies • requires councils to consider joint approaches to plan making.

Paragraph 156 of the NPPF sets out the strategic issues where co-operation might be appropriate.

Local Plan Update

Eden District Council - Preparing a full draft Preferred Options Local Plan with a view to consulting on it in Mid-July. Will take forward previous work on housing and employment sites and also eventually replace the current adopted Core Strategy.

Carlisle City – Published a full Preferred Options Local Plan in Summer 2013, Publication now expected late 2014. Northumberland – Core Strategy Preferred Options was being progressed in two stages. The first contained all topics apart from housing, employment and green belt, the second then covered these topics. Stage two consultation finished January 2014, with strategic sites included. 12,000 comments received. A combined document is due to go to the Policy Board at the end of July for consultation in August. The plan includes minerals and waste.

Cumbria County Council Minerals & Waste – Consultation Spring 2013, revised draft due Summer/Autumn 2014.

Duty to Co-operate Updates

The group shared experience of Duty to Co-operate. All Northumberland Authorities are signed up a memorandum of understanding. Cumbrian authorities are carrying out regular meetings but few cross boundary issues currently identified.

All Councils have had limited direct contact on Local Plans with Local Enterprise Partnerships to date but are feeding priorities in through economic development colleagues/County.

There has been regular liaison with Environment Agency. Carlisle and Eden have also met with United Utilities.

Action – Any available lists of infrastructure contacts to be shared - ALL

Consideration of Possible Cross Boundary Issues

Issue? Action? Housing

Northumberland continuing to review evidence. Edge Analytics have carried out population & household modelling. Figures proposed now above RSS levels and combine various scenarios. Carlisle & Eden have carried out/commissioned work building on CCC POPGROUP modelling as a starting point, both proposing figures above national population & household projections.

SHMA – Carlisle & Northumberland’s is up to date (2011/2012). Eden have looked at headline figures but have yet to carry out full assessment.

SHLAA – Carlisle update annually. Northumberland carried out a SHLAA update in 2013. Eden have been collecting information as part of Local Plan work and will update 2009 study.

All three authorities have carried out an assessment of objectively assessed need and have concluded that it can be met within each authority’s boundaries. Current housing market boundaries appear fit for purpose.

Conclusion - no cross boundary issues have been identified. Gypsies and Travellers Northumberland to ask for Cumbria-wide assessment carried out 2013 revealed need in further Allerdale, Eden, Carlisle. Carlisle have identified a suitable site, meetings if any Eden are currently considering options but at present consider need cannot be there is no need to look outside area. Northumberland last accommodated carried out assessment in 2008, due to be updated. Unlikely within the that there will be any cross boundary issues arising given scale County - NCC of County.

Conclusion - no cross boundary issues have been identified. Employment & Retail

Carlisle carried out an employment review, revealing over supply. Northumberland refreshing evidence but likely to reveal similar conclusions. Eden last carried out a full assessment in 2009 but have since looked at projections and overall demand. No indication that there will be any shortage of possible sites.

Viability of sites and the need to attract higher value employment remains the main issues.

Carlisle & Eden have up to date retail assessments, Northumberland due to refresh their existing study.

It was considered that given separation of settlements and lack of strategic allocations close to borders there were no issues arising.

Conclusion - no cross boundary issues have been identified. Renewables Share any draft policies on All three councils to include criteria based policies. It was renewables – considered that these could be shared. Northumberland have ALL been carrying out research on possible tourism impacts, will share once complete. Cumbria study on cumulative impact of Share any conclusions on vertical infrastructure due to report soon.. tourism impact/notify Conclusion - no cross boundary issues have been identified. others when complete - NCC Minerals & Waste.

Discussion on possible cross boundary issues raised no issues. Waste & Mineral movements between Cumbria/Northumberland very limited and tend to be to specialist private sector sites.

Conclusion - no cross boundary issues have currently been identified. Transport & Infrastructure

No issues identified given lack of large settlements/strategic sites near boundaries of each authority, distance between settlements and relative lack of traffic congestion.

Conclusion - no cross boundary issues have been identified. Green Infrastructure/AoNB/Local Nature Partnership

General agreement that the North Pennines AoNB policy is working well and policy is being crafted to take on board the work of the partnership.

Carlisle/Northumberland share the Northern Upland Chain Local Nature Partnership. Hadrian’s Wall/River Eden Blue Corridor also identified as a common issue but no action needed.

Conclusion - no cross boundary issues have been identified. Whole Plan Viability and CIL

Discussion on progress – Carlisle are progressing CIL and have carried out whole plan viability work. Eden due to progress infrastructure delivery plan/viability work and will decide at a later date if/when CIL is needed. Northumberland have carried out infrastructure delivery plan/viability work which revealed no major deficits.

Conclusion - no cross boundary issues have been identified. Neighbourhood Planning

General discussion. Carlisle = one designated area (Dalston) Northumberland = 9 designated areas including Morpeth & Alnwick. Eden = 3 designated areas plus one completed plan (Upper Eden). Interest from 4-5 other Parishes. Noted that Allenheads (Northumberland) due to be submitted – next door to Alston in Eden.

Any Other Business

It was noted that one of the recommendations arising from Carlisle’s pre submission meeting with the Inspectorate was that any strategic cross boundary issues/designations (e.g. AONB) should be reflected on the Key Diagram.

Date and time for next meeting

It was considered that given that no cross boundaries have been identified at present there was very little merit in setting up a further meeting at present. All authorities to continue to review this position and set up a meeting should this change.

PF 19.5.14.

Northumberland County Council (NCC) and Scottish Borders Council (SBC) and SESplan (SES) Duty to Cooperate Meeting Newton St Boswells th 11 am on Tuesday 10 June 2014

Agenda Item Issue 1. Introductions Joan Sanderson – Principal Strategic Planner, NCC Helen Dormand – Planning Officer, NCC

Alice Miles – Principal Officer, SESPlan Martin Wanless – Forward Planning Manager, SBC Graeme Johnstone – Principal Strategic Transportation Officer, SBC Charles Johnston -Principal Planning Officer, SBC 1. Apologies Jo-Anne Garrick – Spatial Policy & Delivery Manager, NCC

2. Local NCC producing Core Strategy followed by a Delivery Plan/SESplan Document. The Core Strategy has undergone three rounds update of consultation under Regulation 18: ● Issues and Options consultation May – Aug 2012 – 12,000 comments submitted. ● Preferred Options Stage 1 (CSPO1) Feb-Mar 2013 – 4,500 comments submitted ● Preferred Options Stage 2 (CSOP2) Oct 13 – Jan 14 – 1,200 comments submitted. Current timetable: ● Consult on full draft Preferred Options in late Summer 2014, still under Regulation 18. ● Submission consultation – winter 2014/15 ● Examination – summer 2015 ● Adoption – autumn 2015. Timescales likely to be revisited due to release of 2012 population projections.

SESPlan consultation on Housing Needs and Demand Assessment (HONDA) out to consultation for 8 weeks - will then be submitted to Scottish Government to be assessed as ‘robust and credible’. 3. Cross Border Issues: ●Housing: Population NCC - release of 2012 population projections shows slower growth for Northumberland than previously predicted – therefore NCC undertaking additional projection work. Household projections due Autumn.

SBC – previous projections predicted 10% growth to 2037. New projections show flat lining of growth. Household projections due end of July.

Housing NCC undertook SHLAA call for sites in October 2013. Currently updating SHLAA –consultation to take place on the SHLAA end of June/beginning of July. SHMA – partial update undertaken and consulted upon in Oct 2013. Currently updating to address issues around adequately addressing market housing need. Proposed affordable housing target for Northumberland is 30%, subject to viability.

SBC have 25% baseline affordable housing target across each of the 4 housing market delivery areas, which can be reduced down for market conditions. New Scottish Planning Policy expected at the end of the month where target is likely to disappear.

Berwick area seen as the main cross border area in relation to housing. SBC see no significant demand arising from developers in the Berwick area and its catchment. Generally no support for sites beyond the landowner.

Scottish referendum is creating uncertainty - England to Scotland migration not as strong as people want certainty.

Gypsies and Travellers NCC GTAA undertaken in 2008 for the period up to up to 2018. Identified need for 11 permanent pitches: 1 in the north and 11 in the SE and need for stopping off places throughout Northumberland. New GTAA currently being undertaken, draft report expected in November 2014.

SBC have one site at Innerleithen.

NO CROSS BORDER ISSUES IDENTIFIED ●Employment: NCC economic projections undertaken in 2010 alongside ELR. New economic projections currently being undertaken which will feed into revised ELR. NCC has LDO in Blyth and has proposed a flexible policy approach to employment sites which seeks to protect key employment sites.

SBC have a flexible employment policy which seeks to protect strategic and district sites and generally excludes retail. Scottish Enterprise has retrenched and has a much reduced role.

NO CROSS BORDER ISSUES IDENTIFIED ●Renewables NCC are proposing policy in CSPO1 which seeks to protect visual amenity. Presumption against development within 6 x turbine blade tip height of residential properties. SBC have National Guidance which states 2km. SBC produced wind energy SPG in 2011.

NCC has commissioned two studies; landscape impact study and tourism impact study. SBC have had two similar studies done in the past. NCC to share results of studies with SBC

SBC have stringent approach to wind energy in certain areas –such as the southern upland way which is at saturation. There is little in the SW due to Eskdalemuir moratorium within 15km buffer.

Discussion took place regarding the landscape impact of onshore wind in respect of National Park.

CROSS BORDER ISSUES – agreed to keep watching brief in relation to cross border issues associated with renewables. ●Minerals and NCC currently undertaking Local Aggregates Assessment Waste update. NCC to send to SBC, Charles Johnston, for comment.

SESplan reported that there is currently a Technical Note which deals with Minerals and Waste. SPP requirement for guidance on good practice relating to known aggregates and areas of search. Contact at SESPlan for minerals and waste is Colin Davidson, Alice Miles to send through contact details.

NO CROSS BORDER ISSUES IDENTIFIED

●Transport and Road Infrastructure A1 dualling – there is a working group which both NCC and SBC attend. NCC submitted information as part of the A1 North of Newcastle feasibility study – report due back in Autumn Statement 2104. SBC supportive of proposals in Local Plan. NCC to find out if there are any plans re:A68

Rail SBC are promoting a service between Edinburgh and Berwick – they have applied for funding and put forward a bid for 2 stations (1 at Berwickshire and 1 at East Lothian) in connection with the new Scot Rail Franchise. There is potential for a link service from Berwick – Newcastle. Due to hear in Autumn - October earliest.

NCC examining the feasibility of reopening the Belford Station.

SBC sits on the ECML group. East Coast Franchise out to tender – will come online Feb 2015. NCC to check to see if represented on the Group.

Improvements in ECML important particularly in light of HS2 – very important that Edinburgh-Newcastle-London route continues with sufficient capacity.

Cycling NCC and SBC to make sure national trails and cycle routes are joined up across the border from both a green infrastructure and tourism point of view, particularly at Kielder and Berwick.

NCC to forward contact name for Alan Elliott’s replacement to SBC

SFRA/WCS NCC undertaking SFRA Level 2 and detailed WCS. Berwick/Fowberry WRZ highlighted in the Outline WCS as having ground water issues and improved resilience to supply to help meet projected needs. Queries raised whether this had implications for the Coldstream, Duns, Hutton areas. Further investigation work required as part of NCC detailed WCS. NCC to forward web page link to Outline WCS study to SBC and to share results of detailed WCS.

SESPlan currently undertaking SFRA. WCS not currently as requirement for SBC. Work undertaken on a river catchment area basis with SBC having quarterly liaison meetings with SEPA/Scottish Water – SBC to raise issue at next meeting. ●Green NCC and SBC both have policies on protection of rail Infrastructure: corridors for recreational use, as well as various other policies relating to green networks and corridors, nature conservation designations and the coast.

No cross border issues identified other than the impact of onshore wind energy developments on the Northumberland National Park. 4. Whole NCC Strategic Infrastructure Study baseline report Plan Viability highlighted no real issues. and CIL NCC Viability Assessment – significant issues in terms of viability around some housing sites. Impact of viability around some policies – e.g. affordable housing and sustainable construction. An Infrastructure Delivery Plan will accompany the Core Strategy.

At both a strategic and local level in Scotland an Action Programme is produced focused on infrastructure delivery, which is essentially a ‘wishlist’and made available for the reporter for information. The focus in Scotland is about implementation. There is currently no legislation for CIL.

NO CROSS BORDER ISSUES IDENTIFIED 5. AOB Borderlands Initiative – Planning Officers from Council’s aware of the Imitative.

Housing in the Countryside SBC have policy which focusses development on settlements/groups of buildings.

NCC has more flexible approach than previously. Neighbourhood Plans are seeking to allow conversion of redundant buildings in the countryside and some new build i.e. Allendale Neighbourhood Plan. 6. Date and time Agreed to meet once a year if required or earlier if issues for next arise on particular topics. meeting

Northumberland Local Plan Draft Plan for Regulation 18 consultation: Duty to Cooperate Briefing - Note of Meeting 10 July 2018, County Hall, 9.30-11.30

Attendees: Clive Coyne (NNPA), Emily Baldesera (Eden), Martin Craddock (North Tyneside), Mike Allum (Durham), Katy Deeble (Newcastle), Graham Black (Durham), Grant Rainey (Gateshead)

Joan Sanderson, Steve Robson, Helen Dormand, Kevin Tipple, Andrea King (Northumberland), Karen Moore (Planning Consultant for Northumberland).

Apologies: Neil Cole (South Tyneside), Jillian Hale (Carlisle), Kevin Hutchinson (Eden), Phil Megson (Cumbria), Charles Johnston (Scottish Borders), Louise Sloan (Sunderland).

Northumberland Local Plan Regulation 18 - overview by Northumberland NCC gave a presentation on the main elements of the draft Plan and the key cross border issues; which was handed out to delegates and circulated after the event.

The floor was then opened up to questions and discussion: ● Durham - how does your housing figure relate to the Government methodology and how are you badging that, economic uplift? Northumberland - The housing figure is more ambitious than the Government methodology but aims to align with the SEP, North of Tyne Housing Deal and the Borderlands initiative. ● North Tyneside - does it increase working age population? Northumberland - It does not increase working age population necessarily but stems any decline. ● North Tyneside - are you fully aligned with draft NPPF and viability? Northumberland - Yes, mostly aligned. Appropriate that we move forward with a plan on that basis. ● NNPA - what's the evidence for the principal occupancy policy? Northumberland - The North Northumberland Coast Neighbourhood Plan is expected to be “made” today, there is a similar policy in that Plan secured through a S106 clause. The same approach is to be taken through the Northumberland Local Plan, but not across the whole area. “Second and holiday homes” technical paper available on the website. To provide a degree of certainty the policy is based around census data on household spaces, done by parish. ● NNPA - noted they have a similar policy in their draft preferred options plan, which is based on the same evidence source. . ● North Tyneside - are there housing requirements for neighbourhood plan areas? Northumberland - Yes, in Appendix A in the back of the Local Plan document; in the Plan rather than in policy. ● Northumberland - settlement boundaries have been drawn in order to control the location of development and to provide a higher degree of certainty regarding the location of future development. Members supportive of this approach alongside a criteria based approach. Settlement boundaries also ensure consistency of approach as three of the former district authorities have extant policies. In areas where they were not saved e.g. Alnwick district - they are prone to development pressure, particularly villages in the coastal area and Longframlington. ● Durham - noted they have gone for a reasonable policy approach, rather than drawing 220 settlement boundaries. ● Newcastle - what is the 15ha expansion land at the airport for? Northumberland - Same as the Castle Morpeth Plan, essentially for car parking. There are also two employment allocations in Ponteland. ● Gateshead - how does the quantity of employment land compare to the Core Strategy? Northumberland - Similar, larger at Port of Blyth, due to Energy Central. ● Northumberland - responded to written ministerial statement on wind energy by identifying areas suitable for smaller scale wind turbines 25, 25-40 and 40+ metres. Durham - have undertaken a similar approach. ● Northumberland - proposing site allocations for aggregate minerals. ● Durham - did you use new definition for G&T and are you comfortable you're not actually allocating a site, just looking at area of search? Northumberland - Yes, new definition has been used. ● Gateshead - any updates to transport work? Northumberland - Meeting Highways England and transport consultants next week, to discuss work required ee. ● North Tyneside - how many new allocations near Moor Farm? Northumberland - Very little; Newbiggin, Seaton Delaval and Seghill. ● Durham - is the affordable housing requirement the same across the whole County? Northumberland - Yes, 20% across the County. Our chance to influence applications is limited, viability testing results indicate broadly viable. 7 sub areas identified across the County in the SHMA. ● Durham - affordable targets varied from 10-25% across the County, down to ward level. ● Durham - are you considering CIL? Northumberland - Decisions still to be undertaken but unlikely due to the small number of allocations. Durham not pursuing CIL as not viable. ● Discussion around policy HOU 7: Homes for Older and Vulnerable People, particularly with regard to standards in part 2 of the policy. Northumberland have 11,500 full permissions and therefore have little have scope to influence. ● Karen Moore - does anyone have any strategic cross boundary concerns around the plan? None raised by any attendees. ● Karen Moore - have there been any discussions regarding the new Statement of Common Ground? Sunderland, Durham, Northumberland and NNPA all running to similar timetables, so plenty of impetus to ensure this is progressed.

Update from other LPAs ● Northumberland National Park - The preferred options plan will be out for consultation at the end of the month ● Newcastle/Gateshead - producing suite of documents related to Core Strategy plan review. Emphasis of the Core Strategy review will be on Gateshead as they have housing delivery issues. Allocations documents are going to Cabinet in September, with consultation scheduled for October. ● Eden - Hoping to adopt plan later this month- need to undertake screening of two following issues due to HRA European sites following recent HIgh Court ruling. ● Durham - Local Plan Preferred Options currently out for consultation and briefing event to be held at Durham on 20 July 2018 - attendees encouraged to attend.

DUTY TO COOPERATE CROSS BOUNDARY MEETING Northumberland County Council & Northumberland National Park Authority

MINUTES

Date 13 December 2018, 10.00am-11.30pm Location Northumberland County Council, County Hall, Morpeth Attendees Joan Sanderson, Helen Dormand, Kevin Tipple (NCC) Clive Coyne, NNPA

1. Introductions 2/3 Local Plan updates/ common evidence base NNPA: Preferred Options draft plan finished in Sept 2018 - analysing responses, 148 individual representations (approx 20 consultees). MPA, Coal Authority, Con4, NCC among main representors. May need to do a bit more work on forestry as a strategic issue. Publication draft - aiming for May 2018 consultation. NCC: Reg 18 consultation finished 15 August 2018, 2827 representations from 548 consultees. Publication draft going to Cabinet 19 December 2018 to approve the Plan + 2 supporting SPDs, one on Design and one on Highways and Transportation. Full Council on 9 January, seeking delegated powers to submit the Plan once the consultation stage has ended and to submit any additional info. to Insp. Planning to submit in May 2018, with examinations in December, subject to PINS. Had PINS advisory visit on 16 November 2018 - it was very positive, no showstoppers. The Insp. clarified NCC’s approach to certain issues e.g. value mapping approach to affordable housing target and approach to potential suitable areas for wind. Drop in events (23) will begin first week in Feb 2018 until first week in March 2018.

Renewables: NCC acknowledge the concerns of the NNPA raised in the

3 response to the consultation on the Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan regarding the policy approach to onshore wind turbine development. Amendments are proposed to be included in the Regulation 19 Publication Draft and supporting technical paper to be clearer about the approach and how individual proposals would be determined. The proposed amendments in Publication Draft Local Plan include: ● Areas around existing wind farms that indicated potential suitability for the repowering of existing wind energy development (where this related to turbines over 40 metres in height) has been removed. Policy criteria is provided to deal with repowering proposals in line with revised national planning policy; ● Amendments to provide clarity that the areas are potentially suitable areas and detailed proposals would be subject to appraisal against the relevant policy criteria; ● The evidence to identify the potentially suitable areas has been prepared at a strategic, landscape character area scale and the acceptability of individual proposals will be subject to detailed assessment and consideration of the effects at a local scale. Policy criteria will support this assessment. ● The qualities and sensitivities that underpin the National Park designation considered through the landscape sensitivity work.

Minerals: Aggregates: ● Updated Joint LAA now finalised and will be circulated. It will be part of the evidence base for both the NCC and NNPA Publication Draft Local Plans. ● Provision for aggregate minerals is a key cross boundary issue between NCC and NNPA. Recognising NPPF policy in relation to national parks and aggregates extraction, the NCC seeks to ensure the provision for Northumberland as a whole is provided outside of the National Park. ● Mineral Products Association have commented on approach in NNPA Local Plan and want to see a more positive policy that recognises the benfits to the economy arising from minerals extraction. ● NCC comments are the NNPA Local Plan suggested a separate policy dealing with aggregates and Harden quarry and a policy to with building stone quarries to recognise the differences in these sites..

Oil and gas: ● NNPA concerns regarding shale gas extraction through fracking and the approach in emerging NCC Local Plan are acknowledged. ● It is agreed that there is low potential and there are currently no areas

3 licensed for oil and gas in Northumberland. ● Approach and evidence base is for NCC Local Plan is therefore proportionate given this context. ● NCC policies respond to that. Policy criteria to deal with proposals, which includes criteria to deal with potential effects on the National Park and its setting. Not proposing any detailed amendments.

Waste: NCC continue to acknowledge that NNP is reliant on facilities outside the Park due to its spare, rural nature. Local authority collected waste, for example, is managed through sites in main towns and service centres outside park. This raises an important cross boundary issue but the volumes of wastes are relatively small. There is general agreement that NCC need to take account of this when planning for waste management.

4-6 Statement of common ground/ Memorandum of understanding/ North of Tyne devolution NCC have produced a Stage 1 Duty to Cooperate Statement of Common Ground for Reg 19. This will be worked up to a fully signed statement by all neighbouring authorities and parties by submission in May 2018. NNPA are keen to get signed up to Statement of Common Ground, as they weren’t signatories to the 2014 LA7 MOU. NCC expecting to have to update the 2014 MOU for submission. North of Tyne Devolution Deal - Clive to send information through that he has seen. Borderlands Initiative - both NCC and NNPA keeping a close eye on progress of the deal. 7 AOB Tony Gates will be lead National Park officer from January 2019 for National Parks England.

8 Date and time for next meeting TBC

DUTY TO COOPERATE Northumberland, North Tyneside, Newcastle, Northumberland National Park and Gateshead

Minutes

Date: 10 April 2019

Location: Northumberland County Council, County Hall, Morpeth

1 Attendees Joan Sanderson (Northumberland County Council) Steve Robson (Northumberland County Council) Joe Mylan (Northumberland County Council) Clive Coyne (Northumberland National Park Authority) Katy Deeble (Newcastle City Council) Martin Craddock (North Tyneside Council) Chris Carr (Gateshead Council)

Apologies for absence Helen Dormand (Northumberland County Council) Grant Rainey (Gateshead Council)

2 Actions from previous meeting All actions dealt with from previous meeting.

3 Round Table Local Plan updates Northumberland ● Publication Local Plan response period ended 13 March. Approximately 1660 representations from 460 respondents. ● Currently examining the representations to ascertain key issues and whether any modifications required. ● Challenge from Newcastle Airport and Homes England on individual employment sites. ● Issue with West Wharmley sand and gravel site no longer being available. Currently examining way forward. ● Strong objections from Northumberland and Newcastle Society/CPRE on onshore wind policy. ● Scheduled to submit the plan at the end of May and hoping to commence examination hearing sessions in September.

Newcastle City Council ● Development and Allocations document submitted to SoS on 13 March. ● Examination hearing sessions likely to commence early July. ● Main challenges are expected to be around Viability and Space Standards policy. ● Sport England objections to Open Space and Green Infrastructure. Main modifications proposed.

Northumberland National Park Authority ● Subject to Cabinet approval, will be commencing consultation on Local Plan from 31 May to 12 July. ● Scheduled to submit Local Plan to SoS in August.

North Tyneside ● Going through sign-off with joint coastal mitigation service. ● Keeping an eye on strategic sites - waiting for a number to come through. ● Looking to update LDS.

Gateshead ● Making Spaces for Growing Places document to be submitted to SoS on Friday 12 April. ● Potentially have the same inspector as Newcastle with similar associated challenges. Possibly mid July for examination hearing sessions to commence ● Identified challenge on Brownfield viability. ● Both Newcastle and Gateshead have commenced early discussions on review of Core Strategy.

4 Cross Border Issues Green Belt Issue raised around NPPF paragraph 137, concerning Green Belt deletions. Northumberland have identified very localised needs for employment sites that require deletions from the Green Belt. Northumberland set out the exceptional circumstances for the release of Green Belt land around Ponteland, Hexham and Prudhoe to meet very localised employment needs. All confirmed that they are not in a position to accommodate any of NCC’s identified needs in this respect.

5 DtC/SoCG - Draft discussion paper for Heads of Planning ● MOU and Position Statement are out of date. Agreed to still use the existing MOU but retire position statement. NCC had prepared a report for Heads of Planning to consider at their meeting on 3 May. All agreed to provide comments to NCC by 23 April on the paper. ● NCC to prepare joint statement of common ground with the NNPA.

6 Any Other Business Self Build Register E-mail from Andrea King regarding cross over of people on each LAs self-build register. Agreed that everyone would respond to e-mail request.

7 Date of next meeting August - dates, time and venue to be confirmed.