Northumberland Local Plan Core Strategy Strategic Land Review – North Northumberland Delivery Area October 2015 Strategic Land Review North Northumberland Delivery Area 1. Introduction 1.1 The North Northumberland Delivery Area is bounded to the north by the Scottish Border, to the west by the Cheviot Hills of the Northumberland National Park and to the south by the Simonside Hills and the Coquet Valley. The coast, which is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, forms the eastern boundary. The delivery area includes the Main Towns of Alnwick and Berwick- upon-Tweed, and the Service Centres of Belford, Seahouses, Rothbury and Wooler. The small areas which cover these settlements, and the Rest of the North Delivery Area is shown below. Figure 1: North Northumberland Delivery Area 1 2. Alnwick Introduction 2.1 Alnwick is one of two Main Towns in the North Delivery Area. The small area is comprised of the parishes of Alnwick and Denwick. An emerging Neighbourhood Plan covers the same area. Figure 2: Alnwick small area Role and function 2.2 Alnwick has a number of employment sites, mainly along the south east approach into town, and on the other side of the A1. It is influenced by the Tyne and Wear conurbation in terms of travel to work but to a lesser extent than towns in the Central and South East Delivery Areas of the County. 2.3 The town is linked to the north and south by the A1 road corridor, which is dualled either side of Alnwick but with long stretches of single carriageway separating Alnwick from Morpeth, and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Demographic, economic and housing profile Population Profile 2.4 The 2011 Census recorded that there were 8,383 usual residents in the Alnwick area; an increase of 350 people since 2001. 2 2.5 Over this period the proportion of the population of core working age (16- 64 years) increased slightly from 61.9% to 62.4%, while the proportion aged over 65 increased from 19.3% to 21.1%. Table 1: Alnwick demographic profile People aged 16 - 25 - 45 - 65 - 75 and Population 0 - 4 5 - 15 24 44 64 74 over 2001 8033 13.5% 13.2% 9.5% 27.0% 25.4% 9.4% 9.9% 2011 8383 4.4% 12.2% 9.6% 21.8% 30.9% 10.0% 11.0% 2.6 In 2011, the Alnwick area had a slightly smaller proportion of its population of working age than the County as a whole, and a larger proportion aged over 65 years. Population Projection 2.7 When applied at the local level, the 2012 based Sub-national Population Projections indicate that the population of Alnwick will increase by 3.0% between 2011 and 2031. Over this period, the number of people of core working age is projected to decrease by 15.5%. In contrast, the population aged over 65 years is projected to increase, with a 76.4% increase in those aged over 75, although this is lower than the increase in those aged over 75 in Northumberland as a whole. Table 2: Alnwick population projection Projected population change 2011 - 2031 Age Group Population Population Population 2011 2031 Change Change as a % 0-15 1,396 1,093 -303 -21.7% 16-59 (female)/ 16-64 (male) 4,904 4,145 -759 -15.5% 60/65-74 1,173 1,777 604 51.5% 75+ 928 1,637 709 76.4% Total 8,401 8,652 251 3.0% 3 Housing Profile 2.8 In 2011, 78.5% of properties in the Alnwick area were in Council Tax Bands A to C, with 48.2% of these in Band A. 2.9 The 2011 Census recorded 4,107 household spaces in Alnwick, an increase of 309 since 2001. Of these household spaces, 317, or 8.4% had no residents. In 2011, 56.8% of households were living in owner occupied properties, 25.3% in social rented housing and 17.8% in the private rented sector. 2.10 In 2011, 16.9% of households occupied properties with four or more bedrooms, 41.1% of homes had fewer than three bedrooms, and 42.0% have three bedrooms. 2.11 In comparison to Northumberland as a whole, Alnwick contains a slightly larger proportion of low value properties and a lower proportion of high value properties. The area is characterised by having a fewer owner occupiers, and more households living in social rented properties. The housing stock is relatively small. Economic Profile 2.12 Amongst the population aged 16 to 74, 63.0% are in employment, 4.8% unemployed, and 17.7% retired. 2.13 The proportion of people in employment and unemployed is higher in Alnwick than Northumberland as a whole; however the proportion of people retired is lower. Constraints analysis 2.14 Growth of Alnwick is largely constrained to the north of the town by topography, while the River Aln and woodland marks much of the northern boundary. To the west of Alnwick, ground rises steeply to the west, up to Alnwick Moor. Further development to the east is constrained by the A1. 4 Figure 3: Alnwick Highways 2.15 Alnwick is well connected to the strategic road network, with the B1340 and A1068 linking the town to two junctions which provide access to the A1; connecting Alnwick to Berwick-upon-Tweed in the north and Morpeth and the Tyneside conurbation to the south. The A1068 links Alnwick to Amble and south east Northumberland, while the B6341 connects the town to Rothbury. 2.16 Development in Alnwick is constrained by capacity issues associated with both junctions connecting the town to the A1; these junctions may require improvements to accommodate a significant level of development. 2.17 Improvements to the A1 were announced in 2014, which will see the road upgraded to dual carriageway south of Alnwick, and also the dualling of a five mile stretch between Alnwick and Ellingham. Flood Risk 2.18 While most of the town is not identified as at risk of fluvial flooding, much of the area aligned with the River Aln, extending from the northwest to the east of Alnwick, is in Flood Zone 3; as is an additional area aligned with Stocking Burn to the west. A significant area of Alnwick is identified as having a high Surface Water Flood Risk. 5 Figure 4: Alnwick Environment Agency Flood Risk 2.19 The SFRA identifies that areas closely aligned with the River Aln are within the functional flood plain, in Flood Zone 3b. The area aligned with Stocking Burn is identified as being in Flood Zone 3a, in addition to an area east of Alnwick incorporating the A1. Figure 5: Alnwick Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 6 Water and sewerage capacity 2.20 The detailed WCS identifies that there are no capacity constraints associated with water resources from Kielder WRZ, or Alnwick WwTW, although the WwTW may require an upgrade to accommodate a substantial amount of new development. 2.21 The WCS also identifies that the sewer network in the south of the town centre has a historic record of sewer flooding, and indicates there may be capacity issues within the public sewerage system in this location. Further investigation and possible infrastructure upgrades may be required in this location. Natural Environment Designations 2.22 A large area to the northwest of Alnwick, incorporating Hulne Park and its surrounding area, is designated a LWGS; as is the land at Pasture House Farm, west of Alnwick. Figure 6: Alnwick natural environment designations Built Heritage Designations 2.23 Registered parks and gardens extend across much of the area to the north of Alnwick, from the west at Hulne Park to the A1. In this area, both Alnwick Abbey and St Leonards Hospital are designated scheduled monuments (SM), while the Lion Bridge, St Mary’s Chantry House and Bondgate Tower are SM’s located in the town centre. Being a historic town, the centre of Alnwick contains a significant number of buildings and features, which are protected by statutory designations, including a large number of listed buildings located throughout 7 the town centre. A conservation area in Alnwick extends from the north of the settlement at Chantry House to Belvedere Terrace in the south and incorporates the town centre and Clayport Street. Figure 7: Alnwick built heritage designations Archaeological Sensitivity 2.24 The extensive urban survey identifies much of the town centre, including Alnwick Castle, and an area up to Cannongate Bridge as being of high archaeological sensitivity. To the east of Alnwick, an area incorporating Alnwick Gardens and land between Alnwick Castle and the River Aln is identified as being of medium archaeological sensitivity, as is an area adjacent to Chantry House, the Willoughby’s Bank area and the Windsor Gardens area. Scheduled monuments (SM) include the Bondgate Tower, the Lion Bridge, St Mary’s Chantry House and Alnwick Abbey. 8 Figure 8: Alnwick Archaeological Sensitivity Open Space 2.25 Alnwick contains a significant amount of open space, much of which is identified as outdoor sports facilities and is associated with, or in the vicinity of the schools in Alnwick. Additional outdoor sports facilities to the south include Alnwick Cricket Club, Alnwick Rugby Club and the recreation ground, while Alnwick North Community Centre to the northeast of Alnwick also contains outdoor sports facilities. Alnwick contains a significant amount of amenity green space and allotments. 9 Figure 9: Alnwick green infrastructure and open space Landscape sensitivity 2.26 In addition to the landscape sensitivity associated with Alnwick Castle and Alnwick Gardens to the north, areas of rising ground to the southeast, southwest and west (4) of the settlement are identified as being of high sensitivity to change.