CASTLE MORPETH DISTRICT LOCAL PLAN - ADOPTED FEBRUARY 2003 Contents SUMMARY OF PROPOSALS ........................................................................................................... II THE PLAN ...................................................................................................................................................................... II RESOURCES :- .............................................................................................................................................................. II ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION:- ...................................................................................................................... II HOUSING:- .................................................................................................................................................................... III EMPLOYMENT AND TOURISM:- .................................................................................................................................. III SHOPPING:- .................................................................................................................................................................. IV ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION:- .............................................................................................................................. IV RECREATION AND LEISURE:- ...................................................................................................................................... V IMPLEMENTATION:- ...................................................................................................................................................... V CHAPTER 1 - THE STRATEGY ....................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................ 1 ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................................................................................. 2 HOUSING ....................................................................................................................................................................... 2 EMPLOYMENT ............................................................................................................................................................... 2 TRANSPORTATION ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 RECREATION AND LEISURE ........................................................................................................................................ 2 STRATEGIES FOR SETTLEMENTS ............................................................................................................................... 2 CHAPTER 2 - THE LOCAL PLAN .................................................................................................... 5 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 EXISTING LOCAL PLANS IN CASTLE MORPETH ......................................................................................................... 6 THE ADOPTION OF THE LOCAL PLAN.......................................................................................................................... 7 FORMAT OF THE LOCAL PLAN ..................................................................................................................................... 7 ENVIRONMENTAL APPRAISAL OF THE PLAN ............................................................................................................. 8 CHAPTER 3 - RESOURCES ............................................................................................................ 9 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................ 9 ENERGY CONSERVATION .......................................................................................................................................... 10 POLICY RE1 ............................................................................................................................................. 10 RENEWABLE ENERGY .......................................................................................................................................... 10 POLICY RE2. ............................................................................................................................................ 10 WIND POWER - AREAS OF SEARCH .................................................................................................................... 12 POLICY RE3. ............................................................................................................................................ 12 WATER ......................................................................................................................................................................... 12 WATER QUALITY ................................................................................................................................................... 13 POLICY RE4. ............................................................................................................................................ 13 SURFACE WATER RUN-OFF AND FLOOD DEFENCES ....................................................................................... 13 POLICY RE5 ............................................................................................................................................. 13 SERVICE INFRASTRUCTURE ..................................................................................................................................... 14 POLICY RE6. ............................................................................................................................................ 14 MINERALS ................................................................................................................................................................... 14 WASTE DISPOSAL....................................................................................................................................................... 18 DEVELOPMENT AFFECTING SITES AUTHORISED UNDER PART I OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT, 1990. ............................................................................................................................................................................. 19 POLICY RE7. ............................................................................................................................................ 19 CONTAMINATED LAND ............................................................................................................................................... 20 POLICY RE8. ............................................................................................................................................ 20 GROUND STABILITY ................................................................................................................................................... 21 POLICY RE9 ............................................................................................................................................. 21 NOISE SENSITIVE DEVELOPMENT AND AIRCRAFT NOISE ...................................................................................... 22 POLICY RE10 ........................................................................................................................................... 22 CHAPTER 4 - ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION ................................................................ 23 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................... 23 PLANNING CONTEXT .................................................................................................................................................. 23 THE COUNTRYSIDE .................................................................................................................................................... 23 THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................................................................................... 28 THE NORTHUMBERLAND STRUCTURE PLAN ........................................................................................................... 30 OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL BODIES ............................................................................................................................ 31 OBJECTIVES................................................................................................................................................................ 31 Contents CASTLE MORPETH DISTRICT LOCAL PLAN - ADOPTED FEBRUARY 2003 ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION: THE POLICIES ........................................................... 32 THE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE ......................................................................................................................................... 32 SETTLEMENT BOUNDARIES